Arunachal forms Buddhist Confederation, Khandu says at Tawang

Arunachal Pradesh will have its own Buddhist Confederation, Chief Minister Pema Khandu announced on Saturday, October 31, while opening the exposition of the sacred relics of Lord Shakyamuni Buddha at Tawang Monastery.

The Arunachal Buddhist Confederation is meant to give the state's two main Buddhist streams, the Mahayana and the Theravada, a shared platform to protect and strengthen their religious practices. Khandu said it would seek affiliation with the New Delhi-based International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), India Today NE and PTI reported.

Who will lead it

According to the chief minister, the decision followed consultations with senior figures from both traditions, among them Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein and Namsai MLA Jignu Namchoom.

Venerable Agadhamma, chief monk of the Namsai Pariyatti Sasana Buddhist Vihara, has been named the confederation's first president. Thupten Kalden, director of the state's Department of Karmik and Adhyatmik Affairs (DoKAA), will be its secretary general.

Two traditions, many valleys

Khandu described a Buddhist map that stretches across the state. Mahayana communities live in Tawang, West Kameng, Mechuka, Tuting, the Taksing area and Anjaw, while Theravada Buddhists are concentrated in Namsai and Changlang in the east.

Relics on display till November 21

The announcement came as the relics went on public view at Gaden Namgyal Lhatse, better known as Tawang Monastery, 13 years after they were last brought to Arunachal Pradesh. They will stay in Tawang until November 7, move to West Kameng from November 8 to 14, and end the tour in Namsai from November 14 to 21.

Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Lok Sabha MP Tapir Gao, Chief Secretary Manish Gupta and representatives of the Ministry of Culture, the National Museum and the IBC attended the opening.

A message from the Dalai Lama was read out by Venerable Shartse Khensur Jangchup Choeden Rinpoche, the IBC's secretary general. Khandu also read a message from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who called the exposition an event of deep spiritual and cultural significance.

The chief minister welcomed the Union Budget announcement on developing Buddhist sites in the Northeast and said the Union Tourism Ministry was preparing a policy framework that he expected to benefit heritage sites in Arunachal Pradesh.