Thousands Gather at Jivetsal as Sacred Buddha Relics Draw Devotees on Eighth Day
Jivetsal, May 9, 2026: The eighth day of the public exposition and veneration of the sacred relics of Gautama Buddhawitnessed an extraordinary response at Jivetsal, where devotees from different parts of Ladakh assembled in large numbers to pay homage and receive blessings.
The spiritual gathering saw the participation of nearly 7,000 devotees, including visitors from the Kargil region, who arrived throughout the day to take part in the holy occasion. The venue remained filled with worshippers from morning till evening, highlighting the strong spiritual significance attached to the relics among the Buddhist community.
Religious prayers and ceremonial offerings for the day were conducted by monks from Disket Nubra Monastery under the supervision of the Ladakh Gonpa Association. The ongoing programme forms part of a 15-day religious observance during which monks representing 16 major monasteries of Ladakh are leading the prayers on different days according to a fixed schedule.
Members and volunteers of the Ladakh Buddhist Association Youth Wing remained actively engaged in crowd management and logistical support throughout the event. Dedicated arrangements were also made to assist senior citizens and differently-abled devotees to ensure their smooth participation in the veneration ceremony.
The sacred programme is being organised by the Ladakh Buddhist Association, which has prepared a systematic village-wise plan for devotees across Leh district. Organisers informed that the schedule has been carefully designed so that people from every area can participate in the religious event in a phased and organised manner.
According to the announced schedule, students from various educational institutions, including SOS and TCV schools and colleges, are expected to participate in tomorrow’s visitation. After the completion of the present phase in Leh, the sacred relics will proceed to Zanskar on May 11 for the continuation of the veneration programme in the region