Mr. Pawan Chamling attended the 50th Anniversary and the Golden Jubilee Commemoration of the SA-NGOR Chotshog Centre (SNCC)

Gangtok 19^th October: The Chief Minister of Sikkim Mr. Pawan Chamling attended the 50^th Anniversary and the Golden Jubilee Commemoration of the SA-NGOR Chotshog Centre (SNCC) on 19^th October 2011 at  Ngor Gumpa. The Gumpa is also performing the “Zinsay” (Fire Puja) and other rituals for the victims September 18 earthquake.

The programme was started with the chanting of prayers by the young novices and the welcome speech by the H.E Thartse Khen Rinpoche. The Director of SNCC gave a brief report on SNCC.The representative of Central Tibetan Administration placed their report about the historical background. The programme also witnessed the blessings and address by H.H the Sakya Trizin and H.E Luding Dorje Chang and the.

 

Speaking on the occasion the Chief Minister, who was the Chief Guest of the function, expressed his happiness for receiving  blessings from HH Sakya Trizin and other highly incarnate Rinpohes on the occasion.

 

The Speaker and the area MLA , Mr. K.T Gyltsen said that it was a wonderful opportunity for the gathering to receive blessings from highly incarnate Rinpoches under one roof. He also mentioned  the purpose of holding the Pujas  for the victims of earthquake . He also appreciated and thanked  the Chief Minister for his  mobilization of the state administration and provide timely relief assistance.

 

In his address, H.H the Sakya Trizin appreciated the state government and the Chief Minister for good governance, maintaining the peace and harmony in the State as well as  for the  promotion of  spiritual tourism in the state.

 

Earlier, the Chief Minister and H.H Sakya Trizen jointly unveiled the plaque of the proposed SNCC, Khenchen Dorjichang who was the founder of SNCC.  H.H Sakya Trizin also released the Golden Jubilee Souvenir during the function. HH Sakya Trizin and His Eminence Luding Dorji Chang and Holy Sangha also performed a special prayer for the earthquake victims and Sarvamangalam.

The function was also attended by the Cabinet Ministers, MLAs, Advisors, Secretaries from various departments including Ecclesiastical Affairs Department, officials from various Departments, Rinpoches and Monks from different parts of the country and abroad.

 

Chief Minister’s speech

Speaking on the occasion the Chief Minister, who was the Chief Guest of the function, expressed his happiness for receiving  blessings from HH Sakya Trizin and other highly incarnate Rinpohes on the occasion.
The Speaker and the area MLA , Mr. K.T Gyltsen said that it was a wonderful opportunity for the gathering to receive blessings from highly incarnate Rinpoches under one roof. He also mentioned  the purpose of holding the Pujas  for the victims of earthquake . He also appreciated and thanked  the Chief Minister for his  mobilization of the state administration and provide timely relief assistance.
In his address, H.H the Sakya Trizin appreciated the state government and the Chief Minister for good governance, maintaining the peace and harmony in the State as well as  for the  promotion of  spiritual tourism in the state.

Earlier, the Chief Minister and H.H Sakya Trizen jointly unveiled the plaque of the proposed SNCC, Khenchen Dorjichang who was the founder of SNCC.  H.H Sakya Trizin also released the Golden Jubilee Souvenir during the function. HH Sakya Trizin and His Eminence Luding Dorji Chang and Holy Sangha also performed a special prayer for the earthquake victims and Sarvamangalam.
The function was also attended by the Cabinet Ministers, MLAs, Advisors, Secretaries from various departments including Ecclesiastical Affairs Department, officials from various Departments, Rinpoches and Monks from different parts of the country and abroad.
(Note: Full text of Chief Minister’s speech is attached herewith….
 

 to our land. 

As a distinct State with an independent Department of Ecclesiastical to look after the interest of all sentient being, Sikkim is a meeting point of all religious practices, of different faiths, culture and tradition. With large number of religious institutions belonging to different ethnic communities, Sikkim forms premiere seat of Buddhist studies in the Country. The State Government is extending wide range of incentives including grant of scholarship, free uniforms, books and annual subsidy to children in Monastic Schools and Sanckrit Pathshalas across the State.

As part of long term incentive at promotion of religious sanctity, the government has declared state holidays on the occasion of various ethnic cultural festivals like Licha, Tendong-Lho-Rum-Faat, Guru Padmashambhava’s birthday, Siri Jungs’s birthday etc. The government is trying to include a number of cultural and natural heritage of Sikkim in the national and world heritage list. Cultural centres and community bhawans for all ethnic communities are being constructed all over the State to promote community activities on a regular basis. 

This Centre is regularly supported by the State Government by providing assistance to monastic schools, annual contingent grant and mid-day meal etc. The efforts of the Sa-Ngor Chotshog in setting up this Centre has its significance to educate the ignorant masses and has great role to play for the overall well being of all propel. This will ultimately contribute to the creation of universal peace and harmony amongst the people of different nations.

You are all aware that recently a powerful earthquake measuring 6.9 in Richter Scale rattled Sikkim causing huge loss to human life and public properties. In the devastated earthquake, many of our religious institutions including many ancient monasteries, temples, churches have been severely damaged. However, I firmly believe that Sikkim and our god-fearing citizens have been rescued by the Almighty from being thoroughly devastated, causing relatively minor casualties by the potentially powerful earthquake.

With a firm belief in gods and goddesses and the blessings being showered upon us, we are moving ahead with our huge responsibility to rebuild and reconstruct all our properties and our heritage buildings. The State Government has already made commitment to rebuild all the damaged monasteries and other religious institutions in Sikkim to their original forms. In this tasks, I beseech the blessings of His Holiness and his prayer so that we are blessed and empowered further to fulfill the task of rebuilding Sikkim to its position of pre-eminence as the most progressive State in India. Lord Buddha himself educated us as being the “travelers on a cosmic journey dancing in the whirlpool of infinity”. With a firm belief in the teaching of Lord Buddha and finding true salvation following his path, I am confident of bringing back and further strengthening the glory of Sikkim as the most prosperous land of divinity and the Sikkimese people as ever god-fearing, following the path of  dharma to live their lives in perfect harmony with divine injunction.

Praying for support of His Holiness and Mass support from all of you, I once again thank the management, the members of Sangha, including monks, staff and all other associated devotees and volunteers of Sa-Ngor Gonpa of rtheir dedication and effort to maintain the rich legacy of Buddhist teaching in the interest of all the sentient being –living in Sikkim, in the Country and the world over.