Bhutan dedicates one of 108 stupas to PM Modi
King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck dedicated Stupa 76 to the Indian Prime Minister at Gelephu Mindfulness City.
Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck has dedicated one of 108 sacred stupas to Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Gelephu Mindfulness City. The dedication of Stupa 76 recognises the Prime Minister's vision and commitment to the friendship between India and Bhutan, according to reports by The Tribune and The Assam Tribune.
The consecration ceremony took place from October 31 to November 2 on the occasion of Lhabab Duchen. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, who represents the Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs portfolios, attended the event in Bhutan to represent India.
The 108 stupas, each 15m tall, were erected by volunteers along an 11.7km stretch of the Aie (Mau) river. The project aims to showcase Gelephu Mindfulness City as a centre of Vajrayana Buddhism and represent Bhutanese culture.
Rijiju described the dedication as a huge honour for India. He stated on social media that the gesture reflected Bhutan's rich Buddhist heritage and the enduring bonds of friendship between the two nations.
The Gelephu Mindfulness City is an ambitious development initiative envisioned by the Bhutanese King to combine economic growth with ecological sustainability. The ceremony was attended by the Bhutanese King, the Queen, Prime Minister Dasho Tshering Tobgay, and approximately 200,000 people.