Nima | Gelephu

To commemorate the 67th birth anniversary of His Holiness the Je Khenpo yesterday, dzongkhag officials in Sarpang planted 108 medicinal plants of 25 species at the Foothill Medicinal and Recreational Park in Chhokhorling, Samtenling gewog.

The agriculture research and development centre (ARDC) in Samtenling supported the plantation.

The five-acre park will have a Sangay Moenlha statue in the centre surrounded by medicinal herbs and plants, including some rare plants.

Gelephu thromde will construct roads and footpaths, fences and canopies in the park.

The government has provided Nu 16 million for the project.

Officials from ARDC said that over 94 varieties of medicinal plants would be planted in the park with technical support from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forests.

The land was offered to His Holiness by a couple from Trongsa. It was converted into a park on the command of His Holiness.

The event also marked the silver jubilee of His Holiness Trulku Jigme Chhoeda as the 70th Je Khenpo of Bhutan.

The Central Monastic Body offered a thousand butter lamps at the Kuenray of the Trashichhodzong and prayers for His Holiness’s long life.

Two books dedicated to His Holiness, The Compassion of the Awakened One and Soeldeb Dhaypei Rimo, were released during the event.

His Holiness was born to Yum Kuenzang Choden and Yab Rigzin Dorji at Druptse Goempa in 1955.

At the age of 41 years on May 3, 1996, His Holiness was enthroned as the 70th Je Khenpo of Bhutan at the sacred Punakha Dzong upon receiving the Royal command from His Majesty the fourth Druk Gyalpo Jigme Singye Wangchuck.

His Holiness became one of the youngest Je Khenpos in the history of Bhutan. His Holiness is the longest-serving Je Khenpo of Bhutan.

Edited by Tshering Palden