Leh/Jammu, May 14 (PTI) The 14-day sacred grand exposition of the holy Buddha relics concluded on Thursday in Ladakh’s Leh district during which more than 1.18 lakh devotees paid obeisance to Lord Buddha, officials said.
Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Vinai Kumar Saxena, attended the closing ceremony of the exposition, which witnessed participation from people belonging to different walks of life.
On Thursday, thousands of devotees gathered at the Dharma Centre in Choglamsar to pay their final respects to Lord Buddha.
The concluding ceremony coincided with the sacred Monlam Chenmo, the annual Great Prayer Festival of Ladakh dedicated to world peace and universal happiness, the officials said.
Thousands of monks, nuns, venerable Rinpoches and devotees participated in the festival, while sacred mask dances, known as ‘Chhams’, were also performed by monks on the occasion, they said.
The officials said that more than 1.18 lakh devotees from Ladakh, various parts of India and abroad paid obeisance to the holy relics during the 14-day exposition, making it one of the largest spiritual gatherings organised in the Union Territory.
The holy relics were formally inaugurated for public exposition on May 1 on the occasion of the 2569th Buddha Purnima by Union Home Minister Amit Shah at Jivetsal in Leh. Shah had spent two days in Ladakh during the inauguration ceremonies.
Addressing the gathering on Thursday, Ladakh LG Saxena said the exposition was not only a deeply spiritual occasion but also a symbol of cultural unity and harmony.
He said Ladakh appeared blessed by Lord Buddha himself and that the spiritual energy generated during the exposition would remain with the people forever.
He also said the participation of religious leaders, monks, historians, scholars, researchers, pilgrims and tourists from India and abroad had transformed Ladakh into a global spiritual destination.
“The sacred relics of Lord Buddha will return tomorrow to the National Museum in Delhi, but their blessings will remain here forever. Let us together establish Ladakh at the global level as a centre of peace, contemplation and spiritual awakening,” the LG said.
Saxena also appreciated the people of Ladakh for maintaining discipline, patience and devotion while standing in long queues for hours to seek blessings from the sacred relics.
He thanked venerable Rinpoches, the Ladakh Buddhist Association, All Ladakh Gonpa Association, officials of the UT Administration, Indian Army, Indian Air Force, ITBP and Ladakh Police for ensuring the successful conduct of the exposition.
Several dignitaries attended the exposition, including Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu, Union minister Kiren Rijiju, ambassadors of Sri Lanka and Thailand, members of Parliament, and senior Buddhist leaders.
The arrival of the holy relics in Leh on April 29 had witnessed an emotional response, with thousands of residents dressed in traditional attire lining roads from Leh Airport to Jivetsal to welcome the relics.
The relics remained on public display at Jivetsal for nine days before being taken to Karsha Gonpa in Zanskar on May 11 and 12. Special prayers, cultural programmes, conferences and spiritual activities were also organised during the exposition.
His Eminence Drukpa Thuksey Rinpoche expressed gratitude to the Government of India, the LG and all organisations involved for making the exposition a grand success. PTI AB AB KVK KVK
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