Gangtok blooms in exotic colours

Tamanna Tamang/ Himalayan Mirror Correspondent

Gangtok, Feb 25:Chief Minister Pawan Chamling unveiled the name of the Buddha Park at Ravangla, South Sikkim during the Dzung Ceremony and Curtain Raiser on Monday.

The most awaited project to give impetus to Buddhist circuit in the State has been named as Tathagata Tsal by Dalai Lama. Chamling also launched the official website of Tathagata Tsal and also released promotional materials for the inauguration ceremony to be held on March 25 in the presence of Dalai Lama along with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The Rs. 39.20 crore project initially known as Buddha Park or Sakyamuni Project was announced by Chamling during the Pang Lhabsol celebration in Rabong to commemorate the 2500th birthday of Lord Buddha in 2005. The complex spreads across 23 acres land provided by the Rabong Monastery. The Sakyamuni Project was started in 2006 with an objective of filliping religious tourism in the state, and development of the vicinity.

Adding uniqueness to the statue of Lord Buddha which has height of 137 feet 22 inch, the face has been coated with 3.5 kgs of Gold from Bangkok.

Chief Minister while addressing the gathering asked to make the most out of the project in developing the area. “17^th Gyalwa Karmapa Ogyen Trinle Dorjee will visit Sikkim in near future, we have approached the central government positively”, said Chamling. “The youth of the area should take responsibility of the maintenance of the Buddha Park and grab all opportunities to develop tourism in the area” he added.

“The first ever Buddhist circuit of the state is tallest metal statue of Lord Buddha all over the world” informed D.D Bhutia former minister and Vice Chairman of the core committee of the project.  It has also been claimed to be Buddha’s tallest sitting statue of the world.

Nine Buddha relics placed

Nine relics of Lord Buddha presented by nine different countries were installed today at the Buddha Park under the statue of Lord Buddha by Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling and Rimpoche Goshir Gyaltshab.

One of the most important relics of Buddha is the one presented by Somdet Phra Nyanasaamvara, the 19th supreme patriarch of the Kingdom on November 2009. These relics have been installed under the statue of Lord Buddha today which was kept at nearby monastery of Rabong Karma Thekchenling Donkum Duppai Gatshal. The relics were taken in procession from the Monastery by Rincpoche Goshir Gyaltshab and Chief Minister to the main venue.

The relics have been presented by, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Japan, Union of Mayanmar, Republic of China (Taiwan), Bodh Gaya, Nepal, Republic of Korea, Cambodia each and two by Thailand.

The sacred relics were presented by these different countries in 2009 and aimed at attracting more tourism of a Buddhist Circuit to the state.