Governor of Bihar inaugurates the week long festival
The week-long International Festival of Buddhist Heritage of Ladakh that begins at the Mahabodhi International Meditation Centre (MIMC), Leh-Ladakh has open up new horizon. This 6-day festival will now be an annual event and aiming to promote culture, heritage and the richness of Ladakh. From next year, this Buddhist Festival will be held separately and will not be collaborated with the Ladakh Festival helping to promote tourism till mid of October.
This was announced by Nawang Rigzin Jora, Minister of Tourism and Culture, Government of Jammu and Kashmir. “There is no point in holding the two festivals together at the same time. We would plan and organize the International Festival of Buddhist Heritage of Ladakh separately and will aim to promote tourism in Leh till mid of October,” said the minister.
Speaking about the role of Mahabodhi International Meditation Centre (MIMC) in promoting the region of 3 M (Mountains, Monasteries and Mosques), he said that Ven. Bhikkhu Sanghasena is one and the only man in Ladakh whom he can point out on his honesty and the way he single handedly have created such facilities that even the State Government has not been able to do so. MIMC founder Ven Sanghasena was also conferred with a degree of doctorate by Dharma Buddhist University, Malaysia.
The festival was inaugurated by Mr Devanand Konwar, Governor of Bihar and his wife Mrs Neeva Konwar.
The other dignitaries who were present included Mr Rigzin Spalbar, Chairman and Chief Executive Councillor, LADDC, Leh, Mr Newlai Tingkatra, Minister for Water Resources, Social Welfare, Children and Women Empowerment, Government of Arunachal Pradesh, Mr CC Singpo, MLA and Parliamentary Secretary, Arunachal Pradesh, Dr Victor Wee, President Buddhist Gen Fellowship, Malasia, Chairman Tourism Malaysia and Chairman of UN WTO, Mr Hui Hai, Vice Chancellor, Dharma Buddhist University, Malaysia, Professor Ittademaliya Indasara Thero, Vice Chancellor, Buddhist and Pali University, Colombo, Sri Lanka, Kalon Pema Chinnjor, department of religious and culture CTA Gangchen Kyishong.
Beside this, photo and cultural exhibition has being organised to give a glimpse of life and history of Ladakh. Guests and delegates from more than 12 countries including Germany, United States, Thailand, Singapore, Nepal, Korea, Australia, Malaysia and others. The event is being organized by (MIMC), Jammu and Kashmir Government in association with Nava Nalanda Maha Vihara University, Nalanda Bihar.
