India Celebrates Return of Ancient Buddha Relics and Gems
Sotheby's has returned a set of sacred Buddha relic jewels to India after pressure from the Indian government and Buddhist leaders, ending plans to auction the artifacts, which include pearls, rubies, sapphires, and gold, believed to be linked to the Buddha's remains. The relics, unearthed in 1898 and previously held in private collections, will now be displayed publicly in India, sparking ongoing ethical debates about the treatment of sacred relics as commodities.