The 34th birthday of His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje was celebrated in a grand manner at Rumtek Monastery, Dharma Chakra Centre in East Sikkim on Wednesday.
Chief minister Prem Singh Golay was welcomed by HE Goshir Gyaltsab Rimpoche where he was led to the grand living room of His Holiness the Karmapa and where the dignitaries offered their respect and prayers.
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They then invited the holy portrait of His Holiness the 17th Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje to the main shrine hall where the monks chanted the long life puja which was followed by the offering of Long life Mandala to the holy seat of His Holiness the 17th Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje.
HE Goshir Gyaltsab Rimpoche also placed his few words and offered auspicious souvenir to the Chief Minister.
In his short address, the chief minister expressed his gratitude for being a part of such a blessed occasion and stated his elation during this auspicious event.
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He firstly thanked the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his efficient team in the Centre for having accorded blanket permission of His Holiness the 17th Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje to visit Sikkim.
He said that this has been a long pending dream of the party as well and said that credit goes to all monks and individuals who stayed in innumerable hunger strikes at BL House and at Jantar Mantar in Delhi.
He applauded the passion of all the Sikkimese people who never stopped their faith and hope of his visit to the State.
The chief minister also talked about his recent trip to Delhi where he called on all the important leaders of the country and said that he reiterated this stand yet again.
He said that all religion is the same and the State should maintain its peacefulness and unity by showing its bond and strength of togetherness. At the end he thanked HE Goshir Gyaltsab Rimpoche for his benign presence and blessings.
Minister for Ecclesiastical Department, Sonam Lama thanked the NDA government for granting permission to the 17th Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje to visit the state. He hoped that the long pending dream of the whole Sikkimese prayers are answered and the visit to his rightful seat at Rumtek becomes a reality at the earliest.
HRDD Minister Kunga Nima Lepcha expressed his happiness in being a part of such an auspicious occasion. He said that in a place full of suffering, we have amongst us His Holiness the 17th Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje who not only is an embodiment of dharma all across the globe but is also a fountain of purity and divinity. He also thanked all the Dharma Gurus for spreading the message of peace and hoped that the state will be blessed very soon with His Holiness the 17th Karmapa’s visit.