Leh,May 15: Amid chants of prayers, fluttering khataks and folded hands raised in reverence, the Holy Relics of the Tathagata Buddha departed from Ladakh on Friday after a spiritually significant 15-day sacred exposition that drew thousands of devotees from across the Himalayan region.
From the Dharma Centre at Choglamsar to the Technical Airport in Leh, the farewell procession unfolded in an atmosphere of deep devotion and emotion. Hundreds of monks, nuns and lay devotees lined the roads carrying incense sticks and ceremonial khataks, many offering silent prayers as the sacred relics made their final journey through the town. Elderly devotees stood shoulder to shoulder with young children, hoping for one last glimpse of the relics that many described as a once-in-a-lifetime blessing for Ladakh.
At the airport, the Holy Relics were accorded a ceremonial Guard of Honour before their departure to Delhi. The ceremony was attended by the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of the Union Territory of Ladakh, Shri Vinai Kumar Saxena, along with His Eminence Drukpa Thuksey Rinpoche, International Buddhist Confederation Secretary General Ven. Shartse Khensur Jangchup Choeden Rinpoche, Venerable Bhikkhu Sanghasena, and Administrative Secretary, Tourism & Culture, UT Ladakh, Shri Sanjit Rodrigues, IAS.
Several prominent religious, political and social leaders were also present, including President of the Ladakh Gonpa Association Ven. Dorje Stanzin, President of the Ladakh Buddhist Association Chering Dorjey Lakruk, former Members of Parliament Thupstan Chewang and Jamyang Tsering Namgyal, former CEC LAHDC Leh Tashi Gyalson, besides representatives of various religious, cultural and social organisations.
Over the past fifteen days, the exposition transformed the different venues into a spiritual confluence where devotees from different faiths and regions gathered in prayer, reflection and collective reverence. Monlam prayers, ceremonial offerings and continuous streams of pilgrims marked the historic event, which many believe will remain etched in Ladakh’s collective memory for years to come.
As the relics finally departed Ladakh, chants continued to echo softly in the morning air not merely as a farewell, but as an expression of gratitude for what devotees called a rare and sacred moment in Ladakh’s spiritual history.
