The construction of the statue will be completed this month

Religion: The consecration of the giant bronze statue of Guru Nangsey Zilneon  in Tangmachu, Lhuentse will be held from November 1- 3 this year.

The construction of the statue, project officials said will be completed this month.

Prior to the consecration, His Holiness Taklung Tsi Rinpoche and Duejom Yangsay Rinpoche along with other lamas, trulkus, khenpos and lhatruels will conduct a four-day drupchen from October 26 to November 2.

Khenpo Gyeltshen said that the consecration would be dedicated to the 60th birth anniversary commemoration of the Fourth Druk Gyalpo, Gyalyum Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck and the Je Khenpo.

Although the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the giant Guru statue was done in 2005, the actual work started only in 2008. The 157 feet Guru Nangsey Zilneon statue is the one of the tallest statue in the world. Seated on a 38 feet lotus located on a hill in Takila overlooking Tangmachu village in Menbi gewog, the construction took more than seven years.

Project manager Kunzang Tobgay said that the outer structures of the statue has been completed while the wall and celling painting of the three storied lhakhang inside the statue will be completed before October 22.

Kunzang Tobgay said that the construction of monk and nunnery shedra, guest house, canteen, retreat houses for tsamgpas (lay monks) and the lama’s residence is expected to be completed before the end of this month.

A member from Druk Odiyana Foundation, a non-profit organisation funded the construction of the statue. A member Khenpo Gyeltshen said that the total cost of the statue was Nu 700 million which devotees of the foundation from within and abroad donated.

Menbi gup Jamtsho Dorji said that after the construction of Guru statue started, with many people visiting the construction site and gewog office, it greatly benefited the villagers.

The villagers, according to the gup, were able to sell their farm produce that benefited the gewog. Likewise, it is expected that the completion of the construction of the statue would further boost economic activities in the gewog.

Once completed, the Gure statue will be a prominent structure that would attract many tourists and serve as a pilgrimage site.

Located on a 27-acre area in Tangmachu, besides being a pilgrimage site, the site would also serve as a place where people can come for meditation and retreat.

Takila is about 13km from Tangmachu.

Tashi Phuntsho, Lhuentse