His Holiness Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje travelled to Ngedon Bokar Chokar Ling, Bokar Rinpoche's monastery in Mirik, located in the Darjeeling district of West Bengal in the Himalayan foothills, just to the south of Sikkim. The purpose of His Holiness' trip was to preside over the rituals marking the 49th day following the death of Bokar Rinpoche.
Visit the photo gallery for extensive coverage of this historic trip.
October 4, 2004
His Holiness travels by air from Delhi to West Bengal
His Holiness and his attendants traveled from Delhi to Bagdogra Airport near Siliguri in West Bengal, where they arrived 1:35 p.m. He was greeted at the airport by distinguished religious leaders, government officials, and representatives of lay organizations, including:
H.E. Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche
Kyabje Kalu Rinpoche
Gyaton Tulku Rinpoche
Drikung Gyalse Tulku Rinpoche
Khenpo Lodro Donyo Rinpoche
Mr. D.N. Thakarpa, Speaker of the Sikkim Legislative Assembly
Mr. R. Wangmo, secretary cum commissioner of the Ecclesiastical Department of Sikkim
Mr. N. Dorje, special secretary of the Ecclesiastical Department of Sikkim
Tsechokling Rinpoche, add. secretary of the Ecclesiastical Department of Sikkim
Mr. Nar Bahadur Bandhari, president, Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee
Mr. Karma Topden, former member of the Indian Parliament
Representatives of the Sikkim Joint Action Committee
Representatives of the All-Sikkim Buddhist Organization
Representatives of the Sikkim Machirime Organization
Representatives from community organizations in Kalimpong, Darjeeling, the welfare association of the Tibetan settlements, and numerous other local associations
A very large contingent made up of monks and lay community members of Dharma Chakra Centre, Rumtek, Sikkim, and thousands of monastic and lay devotees from throughout Sikkim, Bhutan, Nepal, Ladakh, and other parts of India were also on hand to greet His Holiness at the airport with offerings of incense, music, and a colorful array of victory banners.
A second welcoming committee, headed by Azin Tulku Rinpoche, offered katas to His Holiness as he made his way to Darjeeling from Siliguri.
Arrival at Ngedon Bokar Chokar Ling
At 3:30 p.m. His Holiness and his party arrived at the monastery, where they were greeted by H.E. Gyaltsab Rinpoche and all the monks of Bokar monastery, who led His Holiness in an elaborate procession marked by incense, music, and banners.
His Holiness first visited the kudung lhakang, the room where Bokar Rinpoche¹s body was enshrined, and offered prayers.
From there, His Holiness continued to his private reception room, where he was met by Kalu Rinpoche and Khenpo Lodro Donyo Rinpoche, who offered a mandala and long-life prayer to His Holiness. A tea-and-rice ceremony followed, attended by Rinpoches, lamas, and other distinguished guests. This was followed by a private audience with the official representatives of the state government of Sikkim and the local government.
October 5, 2004
The 49th Day
His Holiness began the rituals for the 49th day at 5:00 a.m. on October 5, in the kudung lhakang, with a recitation of the Kagyu Gurtso.
At 1:30 p.m. His Holiness gave a public audience, teaching, and Chenrezig Empowerment to the 40,000 devotees assembled there to receive his blessing. At 4:00 p.m. His Holiness rejoined the prayer session that had continued in the kudung lhakang.
October 6, 2004
The Final Day in Mirik
His Holiness gave a two-hour teaching the morning of October 6 to all the Western and foreign students who had travelled to Mirik. He then visited the three-year retreatants at Bokar Rinpoche's retreat center and gave a teaching and advice on practice. His Holiness and his party left Mirik at noon to make the two-day trip to Gyuto Ramoche Tantric University, his temporary residence near Dharamsala.
