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Dalai Lama retraces trip to Bomdi-la from air

By Prabin Kalita | The Times of India

Buddhist monks watch a cultural programme on the last day of teaching sessions by the Dalai Lama, in Tawang in the northeastern Indian state of Arunchal Pradesh 11 November 2009. Tibet’s exiled leader, the Dalai Lama, has been in Tawang since Sunday on a visit.File photo/Reuters/Adnan Abidi/India

The Dalai Lama concluded his four-day trip to Tawang on Thursday, but not before revisiting the district deputy commissioner’s residence, called the Tawang House, his first stopover on Indian soil after pulling off a sensational escape from Tibet 50 years ago. He planted saplings near a tree that he had planted while staying there as a refugee in 1959.

The Tibetan leader bade goodbye to Tawang by praying at the Dukhang (main prayer hall) in the Tawang monastery before he retraced his half century-old footsteps on Indian soil to Bomdi-la. This time, however, he took the aerial route to reach the second destination of his escape from Tibet. He flew there in a chopper owned by the Arunachal government.

On the way, the Tibetan leader made a brief stopover at Dirang, where he held a religious discourse for Buddhist followers on the banks of River Dirang before taking to air again for Bomdi-la. It was here at Bomdi-la that an Indian government envoy had formally received him with a welcome message from then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. On 31 March 1959, the 14th Dalai Lama had crossed the Indian border before he reached Tawang. Bomdi-la is 185 km south of Tawang, which is about 40 km away from the international border.

West Kameng district officials informed that the Dalai Lama will be spending the night at Thuibchok Gatselling Lower Gompa and give a religious discourse at the Buddha Stadium at Bomdi-la on Friday. “Tomorrow is our day of salvation. We are expecting more than 10,000 people,” an official said.

Local MLAs have also initiated cleanliness drives in and around Bomdi-la and have asked people to maintain a conducive atmosphere for the Tibetan leader’s visit. The district headquarters wore a festive look with colourful Buddhist prayer flags draping the roads while colourful welcome arches have been put up at entry points.

From Bomdi-la, the Dalai Lama will leave Itanagar by helicopter on Friday. Earlier in the day at Tawang, he laid the foundation of a hostel building of a home for destitutes called Manjushree Vidyapeeth. He also visited the Old Market Gompa and the Serjey Jamyang Chockhorling monastery at Tawang before his departure.

Copyright © 2009 Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd.

Published in The Times of India