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 th...