Buddhist spiritual leader Dalai Lama to Visit Paddar in Kishtwar
Saturday, 05 June 2010 09:33
Kishtwar: Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama is reaching mountain locked Gulabgarh town of Paddar area in Kishtwar district on a two days visit on 5 June to address a religious congregation organized by the Himalayan Buddhist Cultural Society (HBCS). He will also inaugurate a Buddhist centre at Paddar, which has been set up by the Society especially for the Buddhist leader’s visit.
Chief Minister Mr Omar Abdullah will fly to Gulabgarh a couple of hour before the arrival of Dalai Lama to receive the spiritual leader, who is on his first visit to Kishtwar. The Tibetan leader is scheduled to land at Gulabgarh at about 10 am and will have a night halt in the mountainous region before returning to Dharamsala on Sunday afternoon.
The State Government has deputed Tourism Minister Rigzin Jora, R&B Minister and MLA Kishtwar besides senior officers of civil and police administration to assist in making arrangements for the Tibetan leader.
A number of Buddhist leaders from different parts of the country especially Dharamsala and Ladakh have already reached Gulabgarh to make arrangements for the visit of Dalai Lama and accord him a warm welcome.
Dalai Lama will inaugurate a Buddhist centre, hold prayers and address a large gathering at Gulabgarh, Paddar, the only place in Jammu region where about 7000 Buddhists live. Paddar, known for its sapphire mines, borders the picturesque Zanskar valley in Kargil district.
This is the first ever religious congregation being organized at the centuries old Lossany monastery. It will be attended by more than 25,000 Buddhists from Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh region of the State besides few other parts of the country.
This would be the first visit of Tibetan spiritual leader to the area as his visits so far have remained confined to Ladakh where Buddhism is the main religion.
It was raining in Gulabgarh late this evening. Sources hoped that the weather will improve by tomorrow morning to ensure landing of the helicopters and holding religious congregation in the open ground to accommodate a large number of visitors.
Tight security arrangements have been made for the visit of Dalai Lama in Gulabgarh.
Sources said though Gulabgarh and Paddar areas in Kishtwar district are presently free from militancy, their surrounding areas have presence of some militants of Hizbul Mujahideen outfit. Police and para-military personnel have surrounded entire Gulabgarh area for past four days. Police and para-military personnel have also been deployed in mountains overlooking Gulabgarh. Senior officers of police and civil administration were camping at Gulabgarh to ensure that the VVIP visit is passed off peacefully.
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