Buddha relics reach Bomdila; over 4,000 take darshan on opening day

The sacred Piprahwa relics of the Buddha arrived in Bomdila on Sunday and went on public display at Thubchog Gatsel Ling (TGL) Monastery, the Lower Gompa, drawing more than 4,000 devotees on the opening day, NE India Broadcast reported.

The six-day exposition in the West Kameng town runs from November 8 to 13. It follows the relics' stay in Tawang, where the Ministry of Culture said about 31,000 people had come for darshan. After Bomdila they are due to move to the Golden Pagoda at Namsai from November 14 to 20, before returning to the National Museum in New Delhi on November 21.

Received at Rupa

Education, tourism, rural works and public libraries minister Pasang Dorjee Sona received the relics at Rupa, in the presence of Padma Shri Guru Tulku Rinpoche, West Kameng Deputy Commissioner Dr Dilip Kumar, Superintendent of Police Dr D.W. Thongon and Khemachara Bhikkhu, deputy secretary general of the International Buddhist Confederation, along with officials of the Union Ministry of Culture, the Army, monks and others, the report said.

They were then taken along set routes through Rupa township, where residents gathered to pray, before a traditional welcome and special prayers at Gentse Gaden Rabgye Ling, the Upper Gompa in Bomdila, led by the abbot and senior monks.

The relics were later enthroned at TGL Monastery. Sona opened the public darshan and also inaugurated exhibitions of Buddhist heritage put up by the International Buddhist Confederation, the National Museum in New Delhi and the Indian Museum in Kolkata.

What the speakers said

Addressing the gathering, the minister said the exposition was not only a chance to see the relics but also a moment to take in the Buddha's teaching. He asked people to practise compassion, brotherhood, peace and harmony, and spoke of the state's hope of building a Buddhist tourism circuit.

Nakap Nalo, who also spoke, thanked the organisers and said he wanted to carry the same message to Taksing, which has a large Buddhist population. Dirang MLA Phurpa Tsering called the visit historic and blessed, saying the relics had returned to Arunachal Pradesh after 13 years, and he urged people not to miss the chance to pay their respects. Khemachara Bhikkhu also spoke about the spiritual and cultural importance of the exposition.

Cultural programmes by local communities formed part of the inaugural ceremony. Former legislators, officials, Army officers, monks and members of the public were among those present.

Public viewing at TGL Monastery continues until November 13.