Sikkim: Chamling names park after the Dalai Lama

GANGTOK, 25 FEB: The Chief Minister, Mr Pawan Chamling, today unveiled the name of the Buddha Park at Ravangla, South Sikkim during the Dzung Ceremony and curtain-raiser.

The most awaited project to give impetus to Buddhist circuit in the state has been named as Tathagata Tsal by the Dalai Lama. Mr Chamling also launched the official website of Tathagata Tsal and released the promotional materials for the inauguration ceremony scheduled for March 25 in the presence of the Dalai Lama along with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The project, estimated at Rs 39.20 crore, was announced by Mr Chamling way back in 2005 during the Pang Lhabsol celebration in Rabong to commemorate the 2500th birthday of Lord Buddha. The project has been set up on 23 acres provided by the Rabong Monastery. The Sakyamuni Project was started in 2006 with an objective of giving a fillip to religious tourism in the state and development of the surrounding areas.

The statue of Lord Buddha, which has a height of 137 feet 22 inches, has its face coated with 3.5 kg gold from Bangkok.

The chief minister, while addressing the gathering, asked them to make the most of the project in developing the area. “The 17th Karmapa, Ogyen Trinlay, will visit Sikkim in future. We have approached the Centre," said Mr Chamling. “The youth of the area should take the responsibility of maintenance of the Buddha Park and grab the opportunity to develop tourism in the area,” he added. “The first ever Buddhist circuit of the state is the tallest metal statue of Lord Buddha,” informed DD Bhutia, vice-chairman of the core committee of the project and former MLA. It is also claimed to be Buddha’s tallest sitting statue in the world.

Another important feature of the project is the nine Relics presented by nine different countries. One of the most important relics of Buddha is the one presented by Somdet Phra Nyanasaamvara, the 19th supreme patriarch of the kingdom, in November 2009. These relics have been installed under the statue of Lord Buddha today which was kept at a nearby monastery of Rabong Karma Thekchenling Donkum Duppai Gatshal. The relics were taken from the Monastery by Rincpoche Goshir Gyaltshab and the chief minister to the main venue.

statesman news service