GANGTOK, 26 JUNE: “We miss him. No rituals are complete in his absence,” lamented the monks of Rumtek Monastery who celebrated the 25th Birth anniversary of the much-venerated Seventeenth (17th) Gyalwa Karmapa today. The Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje, who heads the Kagyud sect of Buddhism, is awaiting restoration to his headquarters at the Rumtek Dharma Chakra Centre, 24 Kilometers away from here. The religious head has been camping at Gyeto Monastery in Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh in India since 2000.
Mr. Karma Chungyalpa, deputy secretary, Rumtek Dharma Chakra Centre said that while all the holy relics and his sacred hat are preserved here it was difficult to conduct the religious rituals in the befitting fashion. He further informed that all the representatives of the Kagyud sect converged today at Dharamshala to celebrate Karmapa's birthday in a grand fashion.
Though the celebration in Rumtek was not an extravagant one, it was based on the theme ‘Protect your environment'.
Earlier during the day, the programme began with lighting of incense sticks by the Lamas followed by offering of Mandalas (silk scarves) to the portrait of the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa. The monks also offered prayers wishing long life and well being of the Karmapa. Mr Phitook Tshering Bhutia, MLA, Sangha said that the political leadership in Sikkim should contribute its mite to help Karmapa to be restored to his rightful throne. “We expect the chief minister Mr Pawan Chamling to take the lead in this matter,” he said.
