Buddhist socio-religious and popular ceremonies held across Namsai District

As reported in 'The Arunachal Chronicle' Parliamentary Secretary for Environment & Forest Chow Tewa Mein and his wife Nang Vijeyta Mein organized a series of Buddhist socio-religious and popular events in Chongkham on 5th and 6th November. The two days events included dedication ceremony of Poi Lu Kyong Kammathan (Vipassanna Meditation Hall) and Kathina Chivara Dana (ceremony of offering yellow robes) at Noi –Cheynam (Tengapani) village besides dedicating a Kyong (Buddhist Temple) and Kongmu (Pagoda) at Hoiseng Village under Chongkham Circle. The atmosphere of venue echoed with pious chants of Buddhist prayers on November 5 as the program started with hoisting of World Buddhist flag by Venerable Gunawanta Mahathero Chau-Mun (monk) of Ledo (Assam) in presence of Venerable Sukhaminda (Sao Sukham) Chau-Mun of Shan State Myanmar amidst scholars and Buddhist devotees from Thailand, Myanmar (Burma), Sri Lanka, USA and India. The grandeur of the religious event was to be seen as people from all walks of life dressed in their best traditional colorful attire thronged the venue in huge numbers to witness the installation and initiation of Thi (Sacred holy umbrella) atop pagoda of Vipassana Meditation Centre which was later inaugurated by Venerable Sukhaminda (Sao Sukham) Chau-Mun of Shan State Myanmar in presence of Minister Agriculture and Horticulture, Chouna Mein, MLA Namsai Chow Zignu Namchoom, organizer & donor MLA Chongkham Chow Tewa Mein and host of other dignitaries which was followed by mass prayer to pay homage and obeisance to triple gem besides taking of five precepts and Dhamma talk and offering of lunch to Chau-Mun (monks). Later on the day, a religious procession with Tun pethesa/yaa fra (celestial sacred tree) was carried out with the Thad Toh (sacred holy relics of Lord Buddha) brought from Sri Lanka in and around Kongmu Kham (Golden Pagoda) at Noi-Cheynam (Tengapani). The sacred holy relic brought from Sri Lanka has been donated to Golden Pagoda by Janake Edirisinghe and his wife from Sri Lanka. The sacred relic of Buddha is said to contain bones from the different body parts of Lord Buddha which in due course of time has transformed into small grains. The sacred relic of Buddha was also put in display for the lay devotees to pay obeisance. The Kathina Chivara Dana a religious ritual of offering of yellow robes (sangkan) to the monks by the devotees was also performed with much pomp and splendor. It is a meritorious and sacred ceremony observed with due sanctity and devotion and is only performed by the women folk. Dedicating the Kyong Kammathan (Vipassanna Meditation Hall), the organizer of the event Chow Tewa Mein said that all sincere people are welcome to join a Vipassana course to see themselves how the techniques works and to measure the benefits. He appealed all to avail advantage of the Vipassana hall as it is an invaluable tool with which to achieve and share real happiness with others. Vipassana is a way of self-transformation through self-observation, he added. The Kyong Kammathan (Vipassanna Meditation Hall) at Noi-Cheynam (Tengapani) will hold a 10 days vipassana course during which participants will need to follow a prescribed code of discipline, learn the basics of the method, and practice sufficiently to experience its beneficial results. The course will be taught by Venerable Sukhaminda (Sao Sukham) Chau-Mun of Shan State Myanmar. The registration for the Vipassana course has already started at Noi-Cheynam (Tengapani). Other highlights of the function included, illumination of kyong kammathan (meditation hall), releasing of fung-fai (fire balloons), display of fireworks besides presentation of colorful cultural show by school students, cultural team from Thailand and the Tai Khampti Pung an indigenous folk theatre show. Similar religious functions were also held in Piyong village and Manfaiseng village of Namsai district.