Over two lakh people visit holy Buddha relic exposition in Vietnam- The Statesman
The exposition of the Holy Buddha Relics drew lakhs of devotees, with people lining up from early morning to pay homage. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju led a high-level Indian delegation to Vietnam, reaffirming deep spiritual ties between the two nations. The Sacred Relics were on display from May 2–21, 2025, for UN Vesak Day celebrations. Rijiju planted a Bodhi Tree sapling and paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi. A joint press conference highlighted the enduring civilisational ties, with Vietnam expressing deep gratitude for the sacred gesture, supported by India’s Ministry of Culture. Click here to read...
India, UK sign pact to enhance cultural exchange, foster collaboration between cultural institutions- The Print
India and the UK signed a new cooperation agreement aimed at enhancing cultural exchange through the arts and heritage while fostering collaboration between cultural institutions and creative businesses in the two countries. The cultural pact was signed by the Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and UK’s Secretary of State for Culture, Media & Sport, Lisa Nand, who is of Indian heritage, at the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) in New Delhi. Click here to read...
Archaeologists unearth prehistoric tools in NCR’s only primary forest- Hindustan Times
Archaeologists and environmental researchers carrying out work in the Mangar region of the Aravalli have said that they found a variety of pre-historic tools in Mangar from the Lower Palaeolithic age, which effectively could be holding clues to prehistoric ways of life. Click here to read...
Jharkhand: 2,500-year-old ASI’s groundbreaking discovery of Buddhist Stupa unravels ancient cultural hub- Organiser
In a groundbreaking discovery that could rewrite the ancient cultural history of eastern Bharat, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has officially identified a sacred mound in Mangarh village, Hazaribagh district, as a 2,500 to 3,000-year-old Buddhist stupa. Long revered by locals as a spiritual site, this massive mound has now been confirmed as a significant religious structure dating back to a forgotten civilisation, highlighting the region’s deep-rooted Buddhist heritage. Click here to read...
Ancient 3,000-year-old civilisation uncovered in Maharashtra, offering new insight into early history- The Times of India
In a discovery that could reshape our understanding of early human settlement in central India, researchers from Nagpur University uncovered what appears to be the remnants of a nearly 3,000-year-old civilisation in Yavatmal district, Maharashtra. The excavation occurred in Pachkhed village, Babulgaon taluka, during the 2023–2024 academic year. This extensive archaeological effort was led by Dr. Prabash Sahu, Chairman of the Department of Ancient Indian History, Culture and Archaeology. The findings suggest the existence of an Iron Age settlement—ancient and previously undocumented in this region—offering new insights into the ancient history of the area. Click here to read...
Sotheby’s Postpones Auction of Buddhist Relics That India Tried to Block- The New York Times
India’s Culture Ministry halted a Sotheby’s auction in Hong Kong involving relics believed to include the remains of the Buddha, which were unearthed over 120 years ago by a British colonial officer. The ministry issued a legal order for their return, citing the need for preservation and religious reverence. Sotheby’s postponed the auction to allow further discussions. Click here to read...
Gems supposedly buried with Buddha are to be sold at auction – it’s a symptom of Buddhism’s ongoing commercialisation- The Conversation
Around 2,000 years ago, sacred relics believed to include the bones and ashes of the Buddha, along with precious gems, were placed in a stupa at Piprahwa, Uttar Pradesh. In 1898, British landowner William Claxton Peppé excavated the site, dividing the finds between Thailand, a museum in Calcutta, and his own collection. Recently, his descendants attempted to auction their share of the gems, sparking controversy over colonial-era looting and commodification of sacred relics. The Indian government intervened, halting the sale. Critics argue that these relics, deeply sacred to Buddhists, should be preserved and respected, not sold as commercial objects. Click here to read...
ASI asks archaeologist to resubmit Keeladi report, citing need for ‘more authentic’ data- The Indian Express
Nearly a decade after the first trench was dug in Keeladi, a now-celebrated archaeological site in southern Tamil Nadu, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has asked the archaeologist who led the early excavations to revise and resubmit his report, citing the need for better classification, dating justifications, and clearer documentation. In a letter dated May 21, 2025, the ASI instructed K Amarnath Ramakrishna, the archaeologist who directed the first two seasons of the Keeladi dig (2014–2016), to rework his 982-page report. The agency said the current draft, submitted in January 2023, lacked adequate scientific rigour in certain areas and required corrections to make it “more authentic”. Click here to read...
INSV Kaundinya: Navy revives maritime heritage with stitched ship inspired by Ajanta mural- The Hindu
The Indian Navy has formally inducted the ancient-style stitched sail ship, naming it INSV Kaundinya, a vessel modelled on a 5th-century CE depiction of a ship in the Ajanta Caves. The induction ceremony took place on May 21, with officials stating that the Indian Naval Sailing Vessel (INSV) will be based in Karwar. The ship is named after the legendary mariner Kaundinya, who is believed to have sailed across the Indian Ocean to Southeast Asia. Navy officials said the vessel is emblematic of India’s rich maritime traditions, symbolising centuries of exploration, trade, and cultural dialogue across the seas. The vessel will now prepare for a transoceanic voyage tracing an ancient maritime route from Gujarat to Oman, slated for later this year. Click here to read...
Rare Satavahana, Neolithic artefacts discovered in Kondapaka- The Times of India
Members of the Kotha Telangana Charitra Brundam recently discovered three Neolithic stone axes and a rare Satavahana-era terracotta torso at the Patigadda mound in Kondapaka village, Siddipet district. The terracotta figure, likely depicting a royal figure, provides insights into Telangana’s early material culture. Previous finds at the site—including glass beads, ivory dice, and iron slag—suggest its long-term habitation from prehistoric times through the Rashtrakuta and Kakatiya periods. Convenor Sriramoju Haragopal stressed the need for scientific excavation, warning that without urgent action, valuable heritage may be lost. The Brundam called for integrating local discoveries into broader conservation policies for archaeologically rich regions like Siddipet. Click here to read...
Meghalaya event endorses living root bridges for UNESCO World Heritage tag- The Times of India
The department of arts and culture, Govt of Meghalaya, alongside UNESCO, INTACH, and the Meghalaya Basin Management Agency (MBMA), conducted a workshop on the Living Root Bridges Cultural Landscape at the Heritage Club, Tripura Castle. This event marked progress towards preserving and potentially nominating Meghalaya's living root bridges for Unesco world heritage status. Click here to read...
This archaeologist is first to explore Sunderbans. He found evidence of an ancient civilisation- The Print
Archaeologist Phanikant Mishra recently conducted a groundbreaking exploration in the remote Sundarbans delta, becoming the first trained archaeologist to spend two days surveying islands like Govardhanpur and Pratgarpratima. Despite the region’s inaccessibility, he documented over 90 antiquities, including prehistoric animal fossils, terracotta, pottery, and artefacts from the Mauryan to Gupta periods. Mishra highlighted the area's archaeological richness, previously overlooked by authorities, with amateur collectors maintaining private mini-museums. He stressed the need for further study to understand the region’s mysterious historical disconnect with modern settlements. Click here to read...
