CM Nitish Kumar, Buddhist religious leaders lay stone of Bhutanese temple

BIHARSHARIF: Chief minister Nitish Kumar and Buddhist religious leaders from Bhutan laid the foundation stone of a Bhutanese temple near Japanese temple in Rajgir on Sunday.
The function was presided over by the chief spiritual leader of Bhutan His Holiness Je Khenpo. Speaking on the occasion organised to mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of India-Bhutan diplomatic relation, the CM said, "This year India and Bhutan are celebrating the 50th anniversary of establishment of formal diplomatic relations between the two countries.The relations draw strength from our rich and shared cultural and historical heritage.”
The CM also said that Rajgir is very a sacred place for the followers of Lord Buddha as he had spent 12 years in Rajgir and delivered many of his sermons here. Recalling his Bhutan visit in 2011, the CM said he had promised the Royal government in May 2011 for a plot of land in Rajgir for construction of a Bhutanese temple which he has finally fulfilled.
“The Bhutanese temples in Rajgir and Gaya will not only boost tourism but it would go a long way in strengthening the bilateral relation. I am also happy to note that students from Bhutan are studying in the resurrected Nalanda University and other Indian educational institutions,” said Nitish.
His Holiness Je Khenpo, His Eminence Gyeltrul Rinpoche and hundreds of monks and devotees from Bhutan and elsewhere are expected to attend the functions proposed to be organised at the temple site during the next eight days before they move to Bodh Gaya for another session. The Bhutanese temple is proposed to be built in three years at a cost of Rs 30 crore. Besides religious leaders, ambassador of Bhutan to India Maj GenV Namgyal and a host of dignitaries from Bhutan and India attended the function.