15 March 2006- In the first major spiritual tour of the Male Fire Dog Year, His Holiness the Je Khenpo, Trulku Jigme Chhoeda, leaves Thimphu tomorrow to visit eastern Bhutan on a 53-day programme.
His Holiness the Je Khenpo
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His Holiness will conduct the ceremonies of admonition, empowerment, and mass prayers, and consecrate new lhakhangs and thongdroels in Trashiyangtse, Pemagatshel, and Lhuentse during the tour.
His Holiness will preside over the third Moenlam Chhenmo (great prayer ceremony) which is scheduled to begin on March 21 at Chhorten Kora in Trashiyangtse. The seven-day Moenlam Chhenmo and blessing is being organised by the Trashiyangtse Moenlam Tshogpa for the peace and well being of the country and the people.
On his way to Pemagatshel, on March 30, His Holiness will preside over the recitation of Badza Guru Dungdrup (one billion recitations dedicated to Guru Rinpoche) at Gomphu Kora, a sacred site blessed by Guru Rinpoche in the eighth century.
The Badza Guru Dungdrup will be followed by the Gomphu Kora Tshechu, one of the popular festivals of eastern Bhutan, which begins on April 6.
On April 1, His Holiness will consecrate a newly built Thongdroel at Yongla Goenpa in Pemagatshel.
His Holiness will also preside over the first Moenlam Chhenmo in Pemagatshel from April 2 to 8 and His Holiness will consecrate a new lhakhang on April 9 in Nangkor.
On his way to Lhuentse on April 12, His Holiness will consecrate a Thongdroel at Ngatshang lhakhang in Mongar.
In Lhuentse, His Holiness will conduct the Wang-Lung-Thri (blessing, oral transmission and admonition) ceremony.
Organised by the Dratshang, dzongkhag administration and people of Lhuentse dzongkhag for the well being of the people and country, the 14-day ceremony begins on April 15 and concludes on April 29 with the Goenpoi Tongtshog Tangra (feast offering to the protecting deity, Mahakala). Last year, His Holiness conducted the admonition ceremony in Kanglung, Trashigang.
His Holiness, who is scheduled to return to Punakha on May 5, will conduct the Goenpoi Tongtshog ceremony in Autsho between Lhuentse and Mongar highway on May 2.
According to a spokesperson for the Council for Religious Affairs (Dratshang Lhentshog), this is the longest religious tour that His Holiness is making in his 10 years as the Je Khenpo.
“Such a religious tour will reaffirm and strengthen the spiritual faith of the people and promote the Buddha dharma in the country,” said Ngawang Phuntsho, director of Dratshang Lhentshog.
By Rinzin Wangchuk
rwangchuk@kuensel.com.bt
