Alay Choktul ordained at Alay Gumpa

NAMCHI, 28 April: After a gap of ten years, ‘Theeten’ of Alay Mehmey Sangay Lama, the Head Monk of Dechen Chholing Gumpa at Alay, Namchi, was held yesterday. Ten-year old, Chewang Dorjee Tamang has been recognized as the ‘Tulku’ [reincarnation] of Alay Mehmey Sangay Lama and was renamed “Alay Choktul” after yesterday’s ceremony.
The reincarnation of Alay Mehmey Sangay is from Denchung, South Sikkim, and belongs to a family of farmers. He is the son of Dhanbahadur Tamang (Ex- Panchayat) and Sanchamaya Tamang. The ‘Theeten’ and recognition was formalized yesterday at Dechen Chholing Gumpa by Rigzin Chenmo Rinpoche of Dharamsala along with lamas of Dechen Chholing Gumpa. The Rinpoche had been invited by monastery to perform the ceremony. During the ceremony, he spoke on the background of Alay Mehmey and about the reincarnate.
After the ceremony, 21 Dolma Kawang distribution was conducted, followed by ‘maney’ (peace prayer) in the name and memory of spiritual guru Sri Sathya Sai Baba. Chairman Namchi Municipal Council, BT Tamang in his address presented a detailed history of Alay Gumpa.

The ceremony was attended by more than 200 head monks and lamas from various monasteries of Sikkim and West Bengal and was also attended by the president and members of Sikkim Tamang Boudha Sangh, Sangha MLA, Phetook Tshering Bhutia, along with a large number of devotees from Sikkim and West Bengal.