Gangtok Observes Sacred Guru Rinpoche Thrunkar Tshechu

Gangtok, July 24 : Celebrating the birth anniversary of Guru Padmasambhava,the patron saint of Sikkim and a revered teacher of Buddhism, this year’s Guru Rinpoche Thrunkar Tshechu was observed with auspicious prayers and a sacred procession from the Dotaphu Deorali Chorten through the main town of Gangtok.
The event was organised by the Sikkim Buddhist Duechen Organisation (SBDO), the Dotaphu Deorali Chorten and other Buddhist organisations of the State.
At the onset, Chorten Gonpa monks chanted ceremonial prayers like
Guru Tshe-wang (sacred longevity empowerment) and Guru Chyen-dren (invitation prayer) along with food offering (Tsog). Next, a ceremonial unfurling of the traditional exposition of Guru Thangdrall Chenmo took place. The unfurling was presided over by HE Lachung Tulku Rinpoche and other revered lamas.
Hundreds of monks, students, devotees and volunteers then lined up for a procession accompanied by the sacred Guru Terzoet texts in 60 volumes and a statue of the revered Guru Padmasambhava from the programme venue.
Moving along the designated route, the procession made a brief halt at Ridge Park, where devotees gathered to offer prayers to Guru Rinpoche.
The ceremony at Ridge Park was graced by the Governor, Om Prakash Mathur. Also in attendance were Minister for Ecclesiastical, PHE and Water Resources Department, Sonam Lama; Minister For Rural Development, Panchayati Raj and Cooperation Department, Arun Upreti; MLA for Shyari Tathangchen and Advisor for Forest and Environment Department, Tenzing Norbu Lamtha; MLA for Gangtok and Advisor for Urban Development and Food & Civil Supplies Department, Delay Barfungpa; Advisor to Chief Minister, Kunga Nima Lepcha; Advisor for Ecclesiastical Department, Tshewang Lama; Secretary for Ecclesiastical Department, Kincho Doma Lepcha; President of SBDO, Pasong Namgyal; revered monks; councillors; chairpersons; OSDs; members of the SBDO and other Buddhist organisations of the State; and more.
Following a brief pause at Ridge Park, the sacred procession proceeded back to the Dotaphu Deorali Chorten. The day’s observances concluded with the distribution of Guru Tshe-wang and Tshog to all procession participants.