SHIMLA – Himachal Pradesh will hold special Buddhist ceremonies in its mountainous tribal Buddhist belt that borders Tibet.
“Kalchakra” is a rare gathering of Buddhists in monasteries, often attended by Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama and other religious heads, besides Buddhist seekers and tourists from across the globe.
“The state government will hold ‘kalchakras’ at the Tabo, Jispa and at Kungri monasteries in Lahaul and Spiti next year,” according to Himachal Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh.
The government has announced a Rs.72 million facelift for many monasteries in Lahaul, Spiti and Kinnaur.
“All prominent monasteries in the Lahaul valley will be renovated. The Tabo and Kee monasteries in Spiti valley will also get a facelift,” he said.
The Kee and Tabo monasteries are popular with foreign tourists. The latter is over 1,000 years old and is a rigorous training ground for Buddhist monks and nuns.
The money would be spent on renovating waysides amenities for visitors on their way to these remote monasteries.
While inaugurating a Buddhist festival recently, the chief minister thanked the Dalai Lama for choosing the resort town of Dharamsala as the headquarters of his government-in-exile.
The Dalai Lama fled to India in 1959 following a failed anti-China uprising. India is also home to some 100,000 Tibetan refugees.
“This has strengthened Buddhism in the state,” Virbhadra Singh said.
