Piprahwa Buddha Relics Return To India After 127 Years

NEW DELHI, INDIA - JULY 30: Buddhist Monk offers floral tributes to Sacred Piprahwa Relics which are repatriate to India after 127 years at National Museum on July 30, 2025 in New Delhi, India. The Piprahwa Relics comprise the bone fragments of the Historical Buddha, along with soapstone and crystal caskets, a sandstone coffer, and offerings such as gold ornaments and gemstones. They were excavated in 1898 by William Claxton Peppé. These relics inside a casket were deposited by the Sakya clan. A portion of these relics was gifted to the King of Siam. A selection of funerary gems was retained by W.C. Peppé's great-grandson, Chris Peppé. They were listed for auction earlier this year. The Indian government Indian government stopped an auction in Hong Kong to acquire them. (Photo by Vipin Kumar/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)