Thimphu, November 2, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Monday expressed gratitude to Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck for dedicating Stupa 76 in Gelephu Mindfulness City to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in recognition of his commitment and support for the project.
Rijiju attended the consecration ceremony of 108 stupas on Sunday, led by the Bhutanese King, during the auspicious occasion of Lhabab Duchen. Representing the Indian government, he described the dedication of a stupa as a spiritually significant gesture.
“Dedicating sacred stupa to someone is not an ordinary gesture. It is highly meritorious, auspicious, and spiritually significant. In Buddhism, a stupa is not just a monument, it is a physical representation of the Buddha’s enlightened mind,” Rijiju wrote on X.
According to the Ministry of Minority Affairs, the 108-stupa project was conceived and steered by the Bhutanese King. Thousands of volunteers erected 108 stupas, each 15 metres tall and spaced 108 metres apart, along an 11.7-km stretch of the Aie (Mau) River in Gelephu Mindfulness City, near the Assam border.
The project aims to establish Gelephu Mindfulness City as a prominent centre of Vajrayana Buddhism while showcasing Bhutanese values and culture.
During his October 31-November 2 visit, Rijiju also met King Wangchuck and Bhutanese Prime Minister Dasho Tshering Tobgay. The Ministry said both sides appreciated the close friendship between the countries and cooperation in development, trade, energy, investment, connectivity and cultural exchanges.
Rijiju reaffirmed India’s support for Gelephu Mindfulness City and its potential role in the development of neighbouring areas in India and Bhutan.
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