Religious ceremonies have begun in Sarpang ahead of the November 1 commencement of the 108 Jangchub Chorten project, an initiative that will see a series of sacred stupas erected along the Mau Chhu in Gelephu.
His Holiness the Je Khenpo is leading a three-day See Drup ritual at Sarpang Dzong, seeking divine blessings and the removal of spiritual obstacles before work on the stupas begins.
The ceremony, attended by 50 Drubpoens, involves an extensive programme of prayers and religious observances intended to create auspicious conditions for the undertaking. The rituals form an important part of the preparations for the project, which carries deep religious significance.
According to Khenpo Tashi Tshering of the Zhung Dratshang, the ceremony is being conducted to safeguard the project against negative influences and ensure that its commencement takes place under favourable spiritual circumstances.
“The main purpose of conducting this ritual is to ward off negative influences, clear obstacles, and invoke blessings as the 108 Jangchub Chorten project approaches its commencement. The ritual will be performed for three days,” he said.
Meanwhile, preparations for the sacred contents of the stupas have reached their final stage. The zungs, comprising religious relics and other sacred materials intended for enshrinement, have been prepared and are being packed for delivery to the designated sites.
Once the See Drup ceremony concludes, His Holiness will undertake visits to all 108 locations to conduct See Nen rituals. These site-specific religious ceremonies will precede the main event scheduled for November 1, providing spiritual preparation for each location where a chorten is to be raised.
The sequence of ceremonies reflects the importance accorded to religious observances in the construction of sacred Buddhist monuments, where spiritual preparation is considered integral to the physical undertaking.
With the sacred materials ready for transportation and the preliminary rituals progressing, attention is now turning to the November 1 ceremony, which will mark the next major milestone in the establishment of the 108 Jangchub Chortens along the Mau Chhu.
