After Tawang sacred relics of the Buddha reach Bomdila by Air Force helicopter; about 4,000 devotees queue on day one
Bomdila: The sacred relics of Shakyamuni Buddha reached Bomdila in Arunachal Pradesh on Sunday, drawing about 4,000 devotees on the first day of public viewing, according to the Press Information Bureau.
The relics were flown from Tawang to Bomdila aboard an Indian Air Force Chinook helicopter and are on display at Thubchog Gatsel Ling Monastery (Lower Gompa) until November 13.
They were accompanied by Bhikkhu Khemachara, Deputy Secretary General of the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), and officials of the Ministry of Culture, the National Museum in New Delhi and the IBC.
Arunachal Pradesh Education and Tourism Minister Pasang Dorjee Sona received the relics at the Army helipad at Rupa, where a guard of honour was presented.
The relics then travelled to Bomdila, with a short ceremonial halt at the Upper Gompa before being enshrined at the Lower Gompa.
Sona, the chief guest, inaugurated two exhibitions at the monastery after the enshrinement, in the presence of Padma Shri the 12th Guru Trulku Rinpoche.
The exhibitions, organised by the IBC and the National Museum, show the history, spiritual meaning and cultural heritage linked to Buddhism and the relics.
Monks, dignitaries, senior citizens and people with disabilities were among those who offered prayers on Sunday.
From November 9 to 13, devotees from the Bomdila constituency and neighbouring constituencies are scheduled to visit the monastery.
The exposition is organised by the Ministry of Culture with the National Museum, the Arunachal Pradesh government and the IBC.
It follows a seven-day exposition at Tawang Monastery that ended on November 7.
The release said thousands of devotees and visitors from across Tawang district and nearby areas attended.
After Bomdila, the relics will go to the Golden Pagoda in Namsai for public viewing from November 14 to 20.
They are due to return to the National Museum in New Delhi on November 21.
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