Kathmandu: The foundation stone of the Bhutanese monastery to be built by the Bhutanese government in Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Gautam Buddha, has been formally laid. The foundation stone was laid in the presence of the Minister of Home Affairs of Bhutan, Lyonpe Tshiring, the religious leader of Bhutan, Deputy Mahasangharaja Dorje Lopen Rimpoche, and the Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation of the Government of Nepal, Khadakraj Paudel (Ganes).
During the foundation laying ceremony, Bhutanese lamas performed religious rituals and worshipped the land. The construction of the monastery is seen as a historic step to further strengthen the cultural, religious and diplomatic relations between Bhutan and Nepal.
Maksud Oji, Director General of the Department of Culture and Dzongkha Development under the Ministry of Home Affairs of the Government of Bhutan, said that the start of construction of the Bhutanese temple in Lumbini is a very important and historic achievement for Bhutan. Oji said, “We are here to seek the blessings of Bhumi Devi to start construction of a new Bhutanese temple in the Lumbini complex. This project will connect Bhutanese Buddhist tradition and culture with the birthplace of Buddha.”
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Government of Bhutan and the Lumbini Development Fund last year regarding the construction of the monastery. According to the agreement, the construction process has been started by implementing the commitment to start the project within the current year.
Under the first phase of the project, the construction of the border wall of the monastery complex has been completed and now the construction of the main temple has started. Oji said that the Bhutan government aims to complete the entire construction within the next two years.
It is said that the proposed monastery will include the original architecture, religious art and cultural features of Bhutan. Bhutanese style structures, prayer rooms, cultural exhibition areas and necessary infrastructure for religious activities will be built.
According to Director General Oji, after the construction of the monastery is completed, Buddhist pilgrims and tourists from all over the world visiting Lumbini will be able to directly experience Bhutanese culture, art and spiritual traditions.
“As a Buddhist nation, we want to present our unique architecture and devotion to Buddha here”, he said. He further said, “This will help establish Lumbini as a more international and multicultural Buddhist center.”
Emphasis on tourism cooperation
Along with the foundation laying of the monastery, a bilateral meeting between the high government representatives of Nepal and Bhutan was also held in Lumbini. In the discussion held between the Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Khadgaraj Paudel and the Minister of Home Affairs of Bhutan, Lyonpe Chiring, the discussion focused on tourism, cultural exchange and strengthening the relationship between the two countries.
According to the acting member secretary of Lumbini Development Fund, Gyanin Rai, during the talks, Nepal made two important proposals to the Bhutanese side. Minister Paudel emphasized that direct flights should be operated between Paro International Airport in Bhutan and Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa.
The Rai of Nepali side, Acting Member Secretary of the Fund, was of the opinion that if the Paro-Lumbini-Bodhgaya religious tourism circuit could be developed, new possibilities would be created in South Asian Buddhist tourism. The Nepalese side pointed out the need to connect Lumbini to the direct air network as an international Buddhist destination in the context that Drak Air, the national flag carrier of Bhutan, is currently operating Paro-Kathmandu flights.
It was related to the Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) being imposed by Bhutan on foreign tourists. At present, Nepali citizens also have to pay a fee equal to 100 US dollars per person per day when visiting Bhutan.
Keeping in view the historical, cultural and religious relations between the two countries, Nepal has requested to remove the fee or arrange special concessions for Nepali citizens. Presenting the example of separate arrangements for tourists from India and Bangladesh, the Nepali side requested to provide easy access to Nepali tourists.
Bhutan’s Minister of Home Affairs, Lyonpe Tshiring, stated that the issues raised by Nepal were taken positively and expressed commitment that further discussions would be held at the necessary government level. He expressed gratitude on behalf of the Bhutanese government for the land and support provided by the Nepalese government for the construction of the Bhutanese monastery in Lumbini. He also promised to strengthen the religious relations between Lumbini and Bhutan and increase cooperation in Buddhist heritage protection, pilgrimage tourism promotion and people-to-people relations.
On behalf of Nepal, MP Taufiq Ahmed Khan, elected from Lumbini region, and Kanhaiya Baniya, MP elected from Rupandehi-4, participated in the bilateral meeting. Similarly, the Ambassador of Bhutan to Nepal, Major General Vetsop Namgyel, Home Secretary of the Government of Bhutan and others participated on behalf of Bhutan.
(RSS)
