Leh, April 9: Lieutenant Governor of the Union Territory of Ladakh, Shri Vinai Kumar Saxena, chaired a high-level meeting with venerable Rinpoches, monks from various monasteries, government officials and concerned stakeholders, to review the arrangements for the upcoming Sacred Exposition of the Holy Relics of Lord Buddha in Leh and Zanskar.
His Eminence Drukpa Thuksey Rinpoche, His Eminence Palga Rinpoche, His Eminence Stakna Rinpoche, Ven Sanghasena from Mahabodhi International Meditation Centre (MIMC), and monks and representatives from various monasteries, were present in the meeting with the Lieutenant Governor. The meeting also deliberated on preparatory rituals and ceremonial aspects. It was informed that the All Ladakh Gonpa Association will oversee the conduct of chanting recitals by monks from 16 monasteries.
During the meeting, venerable Rinpoches shared valuable suggestions to make the event more inclusive and spiritually enriching. The suggestions included organising a combined chanting of mantras by all 16 monasteries. It was proposed to showcase the life events of Lord Buddha — from birth to enlightenment — through drone-based visual presentations, and creating awareness through distribution of pamphlets and QR-code-enabled information at the Tourist Facilitation Desk at Kushok Bakula Rinpoche Airport and other prominent tourist places.
Suggestions were also made to install informational standees at hotels and guest houses and to organise a special prayer offering at Khardung La. Additionally, it was recommended that the official Tathagata website should include information in Hindi as well, to ensure wider accessibility.
Agreeing with the suggestions of the Rinpoches, the Lieutenant Governor stressed the need for coordinated efforts to ensure a world-class experience for devotees and visitors.
Describing the exposition as a historic occasion for Ladakh, Shri Saxena directed that all arrangements be carried out in a seamless and coordinated manner and sought the active cooperation of the venerable Rinpoches and monastic institutions for the success of the event.
Shri Saxena further directed that prominent landmarks such as Leh Palace, Namgyal Tsemo, forts and the Leh Main Market be illuminated with decorative lighting to create a festive ambience. He also stressed the need to leverage social media platforms to reach a wider audience with information about the event.
Highlighting his vision, the Lieutenant Governor stated that the event presents a unique opportunity to position Ladakh on the global map as a leading spiritual and wellness destination. He also emphasised the need for robust security arrangements, adequate drinking water and public convenience facilities, and installation of CCTV cameras along key routes to ensure the safety and comfort of devotees and delegates.
Notably, the Sacred Relics are expected to arrive in Leh on April 29, where they will be accorded a grand ceremonial reception. The 2569th Buddha Purnima will be celebrated with full religious fervour on May 1, at Jivetsal, followed by the public exposition of the holy relics from May 2 to May 9 for veneration at the same venue.
Thereafter, the relics will be taken to Zanskar for public veneration on May 11 and 12. Subsequently, the relics will be displayed at the Dharma Centre in Choglamsar on May 13 and 14, before being flown back to Delhi on May 15.
It was also informed that simultaneous exhibitions showcasing Buddhist artefacts/scriptures will be organised at the Central Institute of Buddhist Studies and Leh Palace.
A series of parallel events will also be held at the Mahabodhi International Meditation Centre, including meditation and yoga sessions, as well as medical health camps. In addition, interfaith dialogues and seminars on themes such as “International Conference on Himalayan Buddhism,” “Peace in Times of Conflict,” and “Past, Present and Future of Buddhism in Ladakh” will be held.
Film screenings on the life of Kushok Bakula Rinpoche, a Kushok Bakula Rinpoche Memorial lecturer series, and a talk on “Modern Science and Buddhism” by Geshe Namdak are also part of the programme.
