BHAIRAHAWA: The foundation stone of the Bhutanese monastery to be built by the Bhutanese government in Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Gautam Buddha, was formally laid today.
The construction of the monastery was inaugurated amidst a special religious ceremony in the presence of Bhutanese Home Minister Lyonpe Tshering, Bhutanese Religious Leader Vice-Sangha King Dorje Lopen Rimpoche, and Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation of Nepal Khadak Raj Paudel.
Bhutanese lamas performed religious rituals and performed Bhoomi Poojas at the foundation stone laying ceremony.
The construction of the monastery is seen as a historic step to further strengthen cultural, religious and diplomatic relations between Bhutan and Nepal.
Speaking on the occasion, Director General of the Department of Culture and Dzongkha Development under the Ministry of Home Affairs of the Government of Bhutan, Nagtsho Dorji, said that the start of the construction of the Bhutanese temple in Lumbini is a very important and historic achievement for Bhutan. “This project will connect Bhutanese Buddhist tradition and culture with the birthplace of Lord Buddha.”
It may be noted that the Bhutanese government and the Lumbini Development Trust signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the construction of the monastery last year.
It is said that the proposed monastery will incorporate Bhutan’s original architecture, religious art and cultural characteristics. Bhutanese-style structures, prayer halls, cultural exhibition areas and necessary infrastructure for religious activities.
According to Director General Dorji, after the construction of the monastery is completed, Buddhist pilgrims and tourists from all over the world visiting Lumbini will be able to experience Bhutanese culture, art and spiritual traditions firsthand.
Meanwhile, a bilateral meeting was also held in Lumbini between high-ranking government representatives of Nepal and Bhutan. The discussions between Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Paudel and Bhutanese Home Minister Lyonpe Tshering focused on tourism, cultural exchange and further strengthening the relationship between the two countries.
According to Gyanin Rai, acting member secretary of the Lumbini Development Trust, during the talks, Minister Paudel emphasized the need to operate direct flights between Bhutan’s Paro International Airport and Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa.
Nepal also requested that the Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) imposed by Bhutan on foreign tourists be removed or special concessions be made for Nepali citizens, keeping in mind the historical, cultural and religious relations between the two countries.
Bhutanese Home Minister Lyonpe Tshering expressed his commitment to further discuss the issues raised by Nepal positively at the necessary government level. He expressed gratitude on behalf of the Bhutanese government for the land and support provided by the Nepalese government for the construction of a Bhutanese monastery in Lumbini.
He also expressed his commitment to further strengthen the religious relations between Lumbini and Bhutan by increasing cooperation in the conservation of Buddhist heritage, promotion of pilgrimage tourism, and expansion of people-to-people relations.
The bilateral meeting was attended by the elected member of parliament from Lumbini, Taufeek Ahmed Khan, and the elected member of parliament from Rupandehi-4, Kanhaiya Baniya.
Similarly, the Bhutanese Ambassador to Nepal, Major General Vetsop Namgyel, and the Home Secretary of the Government of Bhutan, among others, were present on behalf of Bhutan.
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