India-linked Buddha relics to be enshrined in Bhutanese chortens
Monks and volunteers will build 108 stupas along the Mau Chhu River in Gelephu on Sunday.
Buddhist relics of Indian origin will be placed in most of the 108 jangchub chortens being constructed in Gelephu on Sunday, according to The Hindu. The stupas are being built simultaneously by volunteers and monks along a 12 km stretch of the Mau Chhu River.
The event serves as the spiritual foundation for the Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC), which King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk envisions as a global economic hub driven by spirituality. The town of Gelephu is located about 240 km south-southeast of Thimphu and borders the Chirang district in Assam.
Choten Dorji, Principal Secretary to one of the masters of the Central Monastic Body of Bhutan, said on Saturday that Buddhists from Bhutan, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand donated hundreds of relics. He noted that Malaysia sent three sets of 108 relics and many others were received from Thailand, with most being sourced from India.
The relics, which include bones and hair, form part of the 'zung', representing the Buddha's enlightened body, speech, and mind. Project 108 involves 40,000 trained volunteers and each chorten is estimated to cost $200,000.
King Wangchuk previously described Project 108 as a test of national character. The construction of the 15-metre-tall chortens on Sunday also coincides with the 18th coronation anniversary of the King.