Dalai Lama to visit Sikkim next month
Sikkim chief minister Prem Singh Tamang on a meeting announced that Dalai Lama, the Tibetan spiritual leader would be visiting Sikkim the next month. He will be on a five-day visit from 10th October and return on 14th October.
During the meeting, which was attended by several notable individuals including the Chief Secretary VB Pathak, Additional Chief Secretary S Sudhakar Rao, Ecclesiastical Minister Ven Sonam Lama and leaders from various departments, CM Golay emphasized the significance of the Dalai Lama’s upcoming visit. He urged all attendees to approach the visit with a high level of seriousness and dedication.
The upcoming visit of the Dalai Lama marks his seventh trip to Sikkim. This visit holds great cultural and spiritual significance as it aims to further enhance the bond between the Tibetan spiritual leader and the community of Sikkim.
The first visit of Dalai Lama in Sikkim took place in 1956 when he was on the route to celebrate the 2500th birth anniversary of Lord Buddha in India. During that journey of his return, he had stayed in Sikkim for nearly a month due to severe snowfall on the path to Tibet. His last visit to Sikkim was in December 2010 when he embarked on a two-day spiritual retreat at the ancient Tashiding Monastery, a revered Buddhist sanctuary dating back to the 17th century.
Since the establishment of Golay’s Government in 2019, efforts have been continuously made to extend an invitation to Dalai Lama to visit Sikkim and receive His blessings. And, finally this year their efforts are bearing fruit. So, Golay emphasized that every possible measure should be taken to ensure that the visit becomes a historic and memorable occasion.
CM Golay and Ven Sonam Lama will be leading the organizing committee as Chief Patron and Patron of the organizing committee and VB Pathak will serve as the Chairman. Several other committees and groups have also been set up to prepare for the Dalai Lama’s visit.
The visit of Dalai Lama to Sikkim is a momentous event that holds significant cultural, spiritual, and diplomatic implications. His Holiness presence in Sikkim not only reaffirms the deep-rooted spiritual ties between the Tibetan Buddhist community and the region but also serves as a symbol of unity and peace.
