Gelephu: Union Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju represented the Indian government at the ceremony marking the raising and consecration of 108 stupas in Bhutan’s Gelephu Mindfulness City on November 1.
The ceremony was led by Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and highlighted the shared spiritual and cultural ties between India and Bhutan.
Conceived by the Bhutanese king, the project saw thousands of volunteers erect 108 stupas in a single day. Each structure is 15 metres tall, with 108 metres separating one stupa from the next. The stupas stand along an 11.7-km stretch on the banks of the Aie (Mau) River in Gelephu Mindfulness City, near the Assam border.
The project aims to establish Gelephu Mindfulness City as a prominent centre of Vajrayana Buddhism while reflecting Bhutan’s cultural values and heritage.
The king, Bhutanese Prime Minister Dasho Tshering Tobgay and Rijiju offered prayers at Stupa No. 76, which was dedicated to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in recognition of his commitment and support for the Gelephu Mindfulness City project. Rijiju conveyed Modi’s gratitude to the Bhutanese king for the gesture.
During his visit to Bhutan from October 31 to November 2, Rijiju also met the king and Prime Minister Tobgay. The discussions covered bilateral cooperation in areas including development, trade, energy, investment, connectivity and cultural exchanges.
Rijiju reaffirmed India’s support for the Gelephu Mindfulness City project and its potential to contribute to the development of neighbouring regions in India and Bhutan.
