Arunachal: Choskor procession marks the end of the month-long Nyungney
BOMDILA: Marking the end of Nyungne – a month-long period of fasting and prayers for accumulation of merit during the auspicious month of Saga Dawa – hundreds joined the Choskor procession from the Thubchog Gatsel Ling monastery in Bomdila in West Kameng district on Tuesday.
Speaking on the occasion, Padma Shri awardee, the 12th Guru Tulku Rinpoche of the monastery, said, “Saga Dawa is an auspicious month for the Buddhist community. It is the fourth month of the Mahayana Buddhist lunar calendar and commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and maha parinirvana of the Buddha. Symbolically, the Choskor procession is conducted for a good harvest and to avert natural calamities and epidemics.”
People from all walks of life thronged the monastery to participate in the Choskor procession, carrying the holy scriptures of the Buddha’s teachings – Kangyur and Tengyur – as well as sacred portraits and idols. The procession passed through all localities of the town, including Sera and Pedung villages.
Earlier, on Monday, a ‘long-life initiation’ was bestowed upon devotees following an interpretation of the Four Noble Truths by the rinpoche. The rinpoche urged the devotees to be compassionate towards all sentient beings, promote peace, and extend alms to those in need.
The procession, which began at 7 am, returned to the monastery at 6.30 pm, after covering more than 30 km on foot. The rinpoche expressed gratitude to all the participants, including monks, gaon buras, group leaders, and the monasteries of the township, as well as those in Sera and Pedung villages, for their devoted participation.
