By Tenzin Choephel
Phayul Correspondent
The holy Boudanath Stupa or the Chorten Jarung Khashor was consecrated today by His Eminence Kyabje Trulshik Rinpoche after the completion of renovation for couple of months.
The consecration ceremony was performed on the northern side of the Stupa circumambulation where a stage and throne was set up for Rinpoche; He was supported by lamas of various sects, all the Tibetans heads of Boudha-Jorpati, City-Swoyambu, Jwalakhel and TRTC were also present and the general public included Tibetans and Himalayan Region people like Sherpa, Manangi, Tamang etc.
The consecration ceremony was completed before lunch. Rinpoche then also took a walk around the outside and inside circumambulation where people lined up to get blessing and offer scarf to Him. Kyabje Trulshik Rinpoche is one of the highest ranked lamas of the Nyingmapa Sect of Tibetan Buddhism, he lives in Thubten Choling Monastery in Solukhumbu District of Nepal most of the time but during winter he spends sometime in Kathmandu and currently he is building a monastery in Kathmandu also. After lunch there was ‘tsok’ offering by Rinpoche and other monks that was later distributed to public.
The renovation of holy Boudanath Stupa was initiated by Tibetans living in Boudha and Jorpati and led by head of Tibet Refugee Community Office, Boudha-Jorpati Mr. Dhondup Tsering with an initial budget of 15,00,000 rupees that increased to almost 6 million rupees with donation from general public and various donors and all the expenses were met. The expenses for renovation included reconstruction of the mandala base of the Boudanath Stupa, buying renovation materials, wages to masons and laborers, snacks and water to laborers and volunteers who have helped in various works, electrification, flower garden etc.
The Mandal Marmat Samiti or the Base Renovation Committee included Tibetan Refugee Community Office, Boudha Gyang Guthi, Kathmandu Metropolitan City Ward No. 6 and Boudha Development Committee.
This is a holy activity and any criticism might be incorrect but some Tibetans might wonder why Tibetans have to spend over 6 million rupees when actually it is the work of Boudha Development Committee that charges each foreign visiting tourist 100 rupees and it seems quite ridiculous for whatever reason that 1,11,111 rupees has been contributed to the Boudha Development Committee out of the budget.
