In the wake of a verbal assurance from the Union Home Minister Rajnath
Singh that the Karmapa will be allowed to visit Sikkim soon, the 33rd
birthday of the 17th Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje, was celebrated with
great enthusiasm at the Rumtek monastery on Tuesday.
Hundreds of of devotees and followers from across Sikkim and
neighbouring Darjeeling and Kalimpong, as well as Bhutan, gathered at
the Rumtek Dharma Chakra Centre to witness the event. Rumtek is the main
seat of the Karma Kagyu lineage in Sikkim.
During the celebration a special prayer was organised praying for the long life of the Karmpa. TheTsurpu Labrang, Dharma Chakra Centre Rumtek organized the birthday celebrations.The events also included cultural dances.
Ogyen Trinley Dorje was born in Tibet and recognized by the Dalai Lama as the reincarnation of the 16th Karmapa who had built Rumtek after escaping from Chinese ruled Tibet. He passed away in the USA. Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje fled Chinese-ruled Tibet in December 1999, citing lack of religious freedom under the communist regime.. He arrived in Dharamsala in January 2000 and from then he is residing in India.
But his movement had been restricted and he was not allowed to visit Sikkim. Recently, a 707-day relay hunger strike by monks demanding the early arrival of the 17th Karmapa to Sikkim was withdrawn following the assurance from the Union Home Minister. Rumtek monastery would, however, continue to be out-of-bounds for the Karmapa, but he would be allowed to visit other monasteries in Sikkim. The Sikkim visit of the Karmapa has recently been cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Security.
In his address, Acharay Tshering Lama who is also the Chairman of Karmapa reception committee said: “Politics is being played in the name of the Karmapa. This should not be the case. Instead we should from all sects support the Karmapa.”
He also said now due to the efforts of Chief Minister Pawan Chamling that t Karmapa was all set to visit Sikkim. “We are very happy and finally we all devotees will get a chance to seek his blessings,” added Acharya Lama.
On the occasion, the organising committee also undertook charitable activities like a blood donation camp which saw the participation of 70 monks and donation of gifts to orphanages. The celebration was attended by Goshir Gyaltsab Rinponche as the chief guest, as well as Rumtek MLA Michung Bhutia, Syari MLA Kunga Nima Lepcha.(EOI)
During the celebration a special prayer was organised praying for the long life of the Karmpa. TheTsurpu Labrang, Dharma Chakra Centre Rumtek organized the birthday celebrations.The events also included cultural dances.
Ogyen Trinley Dorje was born in Tibet and recognized by the Dalai Lama as the reincarnation of the 16th Karmapa who had built Rumtek after escaping from Chinese ruled Tibet. He passed away in the USA. Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje fled Chinese-ruled Tibet in December 1999, citing lack of religious freedom under the communist regime.. He arrived in Dharamsala in January 2000 and from then he is residing in India.
But his movement had been restricted and he was not allowed to visit Sikkim. Recently, a 707-day relay hunger strike by monks demanding the early arrival of the 17th Karmapa to Sikkim was withdrawn following the assurance from the Union Home Minister. Rumtek monastery would, however, continue to be out-of-bounds for the Karmapa, but he would be allowed to visit other monasteries in Sikkim. The Sikkim visit of the Karmapa has recently been cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Security.
In his address, Acharay Tshering Lama who is also the Chairman of Karmapa reception committee said: “Politics is being played in the name of the Karmapa. This should not be the case. Instead we should from all sects support the Karmapa.”
He also said now due to the efforts of Chief Minister Pawan Chamling that t Karmapa was all set to visit Sikkim. “We are very happy and finally we all devotees will get a chance to seek his blessings,” added Acharya Lama.
On the occasion, the organising committee also undertook charitable activities like a blood donation camp which saw the participation of 70 monks and donation of gifts to orphanages. The celebration was attended by Goshir Gyaltsab Rinponche as the chief guest, as well as Rumtek MLA Michung Bhutia, Syari MLA Kunga Nima Lepcha.(EOI)
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