Bodh Gaya, January 17 – A number of devotees attending the Kalachakra puja has reached its peak in the last two days since the main initiation began. The Kalachakra Maidan is packed to its extended capacity, and hundreds of devotees are seen outside the perimeter of the Kalachakra Miadan attending the main initiation. A survey of different quarters of the devotees, including monks and nuns from various monasteries and nunneries, Tibetan refugees residing in India, Nepal, Bhutan and abroad, the Buddhists of Indian Himalayas, people from neighboring countries-Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka- and other foreigners from South East Asia, Australia, Africa, Europe, the Latin America, and the North Americas, estimate about a hundred and fifty thousand in attendance for the Kalachakra Initiation.
The second day of the Kalachakra Initiation continued this afternoon. His Holiness the Dalai arrived at the Kalachakra temple early this morning, and left for the Maitreya Project at 4:30 p.m. after conducting the second day of the main initiation.
The main initiation of the Kalachakra puja began yesterday at the Kalachakra Maidan. His Holiness the Dalai Lama gave a preparation initiation for students on the first day of the initiation.
After the initiation yesterday, His Holiness the Dalai Lama visited the local mosque located next to the main stupa at Bodh Gaya. His Holiness was received there by Maulana Mohammad Shaheeruddin, the Imam of the mosque and the Rector of a religious school attached to the mosque. Teachers and students of the school joined in to welcome His Holiness inside the main hall of the mosque. His Holiness spent about 45 minutes in the mosque interacting with eminent persons of the community, teachers and students. The Imam expressed his gratitude to His Holiness for accepting his invitation and sparing a precious time to visit the mosque. A senior student read a Naz’m, a poem in Urdu language composed by him in honor of His Holiness. A stanza from this poem read as: His Holiness the Dalai Lama has returned to this holy place, and with his return, love, peace and friendliness has blossomed in every heart once again. A younger student recited the first chapter of the Holy Koran, titled Surah Fatiha. Addressing the teachers and students, His Holiness said that though we follow different religions, but basically we all are the same human beings. All religious traditions teach us to be a good human being. So, it is for us to work towards this end. His Holiness also advised the students to pay attention to their education and become a good human being. His Holiness donated Indian Rupees a hundred thousand for the educational programs of students. The school has 10 teachers and 150 students, many of whom are either orphan or belong to a very poor family of the community.
Earlier in the morning yesterday, His Holiness the Dalai Lama addressed the media persons and responded to their questions. About a hundred media persons from across the globe attended this Press Opportunity with His Holiness.
The Kalachakra Initiation will continue for the next two days.
Contact: Sonam N. Dagpo, Additional Secretary
Masood Butt, Press Coordinator
Gendun Choephel, Assistant Press Coordinator
Department of Information and International Relations
Central Tibetan Administration Dharamshala, H.P., India
Camped at: Mahayana Guest House, Bodh Gaya
Tel: +91-631-2200675, 2200756
Fax: +91-631-2200676
E-mail: buttm70@yahoo.com
Website: www.tibet.net
