His Holiness the Je Khenpo presided over the Salhang Tendrel ceremony for the choeten construction

Lhakpa Quendren

Gelephu—His Holiness the Je Khenpo presided over the groundbreaking ceremony (Salhang Tendrel) for the Dorden Tashi Gomang, a replica of the Dorji Dhen Choeten, in Gelephu Mindfulness City on Monday.

The project will be jointly constructed by His Holiness and Lam Tshering Wangdi, under the sponsorship of Rinchen Peter Teo, a businessman from Singapore, who also funded the Buddha Dordenma Statue at Kuensel Phodrang in Thimphu.

The choeten will be another significant spiritual and cultural landmark for GMC.

The spiritual leaders are leading the initial projects, with a 21-religious complex planned for GMC, which is envisioned to become the global capital of Vajrayana Buddhism.

The structure, 301 feet tall and 256 feet wide, will be built on 21 acres of state land in Tashiling, Gelephu Thromde. The site stretches from Nimalung Dratshang to the double-lane expressway, which turns off the Gelephu-Zhemgang highway, leading to the workshop area.

Dorden Tashi Gomang will be constructed on 21 acres of state land in Tashiling, Gelephu

The project, scheduled to begin early next year of the Buddhist lunar calendar (Year of the Horse), is expected to be completed within five years. The drawing and design have been completed and approved by His Majesty.

“We can confirm construction once 95 percent of the paperwork is complete, as we continue finalising it to ensure quality. The construction work will then be put out to tender,” says Lam Tshering Wangdi, who will move here to oversee the project once his residence is ready. “We also need to open a bank account and launch a website.”

He said that a project committee, consisting of five members, including Khenpo Sonam Bumdhen, who is bilingual, has been formed, though it is yet to be finalised.

“I am excited and grateful for the opportunity to bring this vision to life,” said Lam Tshering Wangdi, who initiated the Buddha Dordenma project.

Local architects designed the project in consultation with Arup Group Limited, which will review it for approval to ensure the highest safety standards. Arup Group is a British multinational firm headquartered in London that provides design, engineering, architecture, planning, and advisory services for the built environment.

Lam Tshering Wangdi explained that the first three stories of the Choeten will be constructed with stone slates and cement, while the remaining stories will take the form of a stupa. Small stupas are designed for all four directions.

“The structural quality will be ensured to meet the highest international standards, which will provide comfort for prayer, prostration, Buddhist studies, and meditation, even for extended periods,” he said.

To ensure sustainability, the construction will use metal plated with bronze for the exterior finishing. “It has to sustain for thousands of years,” Lam Tshering Wangdi said, adding that the project will import high-quality materials that are shipped quickly and at competitive rates.

The Choeten will feature only one large Buddha statue, similar to the one in Dorji Dhen. While Dorji Dhen houses the Eleven-Faced Thousand-Armed Avalokiteshvara at the top, Yum Jumo Lhazay and one of her sons will be at the top, as per the aspiration of His Holiness, according to Lam Tshering Wangdi.

“It is best if the Buddha is sculpted from YJ metal and coated with gold,” he added.

YJ metal is typically an alloy used for making statues, which is a mix of copper, tin, and sometimes zinc, giving it a bronze-like appearance and excellent durability.

“We have already conducted several research studies for the construction, which was planned a long time ago, with the latest being the architect team’s visit to Dorji Dhen for design preparation,” Lam Tshering Wangdi said.

The Bodh Gaya Choeten replica, at the request of the people of Gelephu to His Holiness, was initially planned 20 years ago in Phulari, Samtenling, where the Gelephu Dzong, a replica of Rinpung Dzong, will be built.

However, the project could not be carried out over the years, with the pandemic further delaying its progress. With the planned GMC, His Majesty commanded Lam Tshering Wangdi to initiate the project, according to sources.

The first two soil tests at Phulari were unsuccessful due to inadequate equipment. The final test, conducted with a larger machine costing Nu 3.7 million and an expert, was successful. Each of the three tests cost between Nu 700,000 and Nu 800,000, with around Nu 1.5 million spent to level the ground.

The original Bodh Gaya stupa, located in Bihar, India, is considered the holiest site in Buddhism, where Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment. It is one of the four main pilgrimage sites associated with his life.

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