Buddha Relics to be opened for public audience on Saturday

GANGTOK, 17 March: Timed to coincide with the annual Bhum-chu ceremony at nearby Tashiding Monastery, the Sakyamuni Project Committee developing the Tathagatha Preserve [as the Buddha Park project in Rabongla, South Sikkim, has been renamed by the Dalai Lama], has announced plans to open the Buddha Relics (Ringsel) in its possession for public audience (Zekha) at the Rabong Karma Thekchenling Donkun Duppai Gatshal Monastery at the Mane Choekerling Complex there on 19 March from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Bhum-chu ceremony is scheduled to begin at midnight on the intervening night of 18 and 19 March and devotees expected to start leaving Tashiding [barely half an hour’s drive from Rabong] from early 19 March. The Zekha, hence, is perfectly timed for them.

The Buddha Relics, it may be recalled have been presented to the Sakyamuni Project by 13 countries and are said to have miraculous powers. The relics were collected by a delegation of Thai Sangha headed by Jamnian Silaseetho, a highly respected monk of Thailand, from various countries and presented to the Sakyamuni Project in 2008.
The relics include one presented by the Supreme Patriarch of Thailand.
Samter Tulku of the Rabong Karma Thekchenling Donkun Duppai Gatshal Monastery will preside over the Zekha ceremony on 19 March.
Besides, a health camp, sponsored by Samter Tulku, with specialists from the State Health Department will also be held at the Mane Choekerling complex on the day for the benefit of visiting devotees.
The Sakyamuni Project Committee, through a press communiqué issued today, has invited all pilgrims, well-wishers and those interested to join the Public Audience of the Ringsel to the monastery on Saturday.