PM Modi, Bhutan King Seek Blessings From Lord Buddha’s Holy Relics In Thimphu | India News

Highlighting the deep-rooted civilization and spiritual ties between India and Bhutan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi joined Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck in seeking blessings from the Relics of Lord Buddha during a rapturous welcome by local monks at Thimphu’s Tashichhodzong on Tuesday.

The relics from India, currently housed in the Grand Kuenrey Hall in Tashichhodzong, were sent for display as a special gesture from the people of India to Bhutan to honor the 70th birth anniversary of the Fourth King and the Global Peace Prayer Festival organized by the Royal Government of Bhutan.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) posted on

This HEPP, which increases the energy production capacity, pic.twitter.com/sWO0zTkJniRandhir Jaiswal (MEAIndia) November 11, 2025

Buddhism is a common heritage between India and Bhutan. A number of Bhutanese pilgrims travel to Bodh Gaya, Rajgir, Nalanda, Sikkim, Udayagiri, Sarnath and other Buddhist places in India.

As part of the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Bhutan, Je Khenpo presided over the groundbreaking ceremony to build a Bhutanese temple in Rajgir. The temple was officially consecrated in September this year. The statue of Zhabdrung, a revered figure in Bhutan who is considered the founder of the Bhutanese nation and currently on display at Simtokha Dzong in Bhutan, was loaned by the Asian Society in Kolkata.

Prime Minister Modi visited Bhutan on his first foreign visit after taking office in 2014. In August 2019, Prime Minister Modi paid a state visit to Bhutan after assuming office for the second term. Prime Minister Modi made another landmark state visit to Bhutan in March 2024, where he was awarded the Order of Druk Gyalpo, Bhutan’s highest civilian honour, by the King of Bhutan at a public ceremony held in Tendrelthang, Thimphu. Prime Minister Modi was the first foreign leader to receive this prestigious award.

In accordance with the established order and priority, the Order of Druk Gyalpo was established as a badge of lifetime achievement and is the pinnacle of the honor system in Bhutan, taking precedence over all orders, decorations and medals.

Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck had announced the award during Bhutan’s 114th National Day celebrations in Tashichhodzong, Thimphu in December 2021. The award recognized Prime Minister Modi’s contribution and people-centric leadership in strengthening India-Bhutan friendship. The award also honors India’s rise as a global power under his leadership and celebrates Bhutan’s special bond with India, the citation said. Prime Minister Modi’s leadership has put India on the path of transformation and India’s moral authority and global influence have increased.

While receiving the award, Prime Minister Modi had underlined that this was an honor given to the 1.4 billion people of Bharat and a testament to the special and unique ties between the two countries.

Currently, around 50,000 Indians work in Bhutan in sectors such as infrastructure development, hydropower, education, trade and commerce; This shows the close humanitarian ties between the two countries. His contributions and services to the overall development of Bhutan are recognized both locally and internationally.