Ladakh Lt Governor R K Mathur has discussed air connectivity possibilities for Kargil with the Centre

By  —  Shyamal Sinha

Ladakh Lt Governor Radha Krishna Mathur was appointed to be the first Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh by the President of India on 25 October 2019. He formally sworn in on 31 October 2019 when the union territory of ladakh came into existence.

He has discussed air connectivity possibilities for Kargil with the Centre and urged the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to explore possibilities for operating Q-400 Bombardier turboprop aircraft in the region, an official spokesperson said on Saturday.

He also requested for necessary efforts to operationalise small fixed-wing aircraft at Kargil and Thoise (Nubra) under the Regional Connectivity (UDAN) scheme at the earliest.UDAN-RCS, UDAN is a regional airport development and “Regional Connectivity Scheme” of Government of India, with the objective of “letting the common citizen of the country fly”,

The lieutenant governor raised the issue during a meeting with Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Hardeep Singh Puri in New Delhi on Friday, the spokesperson said, adding that he discussed various matters on operation and improvement of air facilities in Ladakh.

Mathur applauded the smooth functioning of Pawan Hans helicopters in the region for essential movement of passengers, especially during the winter months, medical emergencies, including evacuation of Covid patients, and stated that this has resulted in reduced dependency on the Indian Air Force.

He urged the AAI to explore possibilities of Required Navigation Performance (RNP) and relaxation in Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) standards, as accorded to Arunachal Pradesh and countries like Nepal and Bhutan for the operation of Q-400 Bombardier turboprop aircraft at Kargil, the spokesperson said.

Mathur stated a feasibility report post examining the topography and other factors may be prepared.

In the meeting, they also discussed expediting a feasibility study to be carried by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) of Kargil airport for the operation of EA320/B737 aircraft, while also studying alternative land for the construction of Kargil airport, the spokesman said.

He said discussions were also held on the matter of exorbitant airfare charged by commercial airlines during the winter months.

Mathur urged the minister to rationalise the issue as, during the winter months, airways remain the only source of transportation for locals, especially students, patients, and pilgrims to travel to other parts of the country, the spokesperson said.

Concerning the development of Leh and Kargil as smart cities under Housing and Urban Affairs, Mathur urged the minister for expediting the final processes viz formal administrative approvals.

He also requested for strengthening the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) in Ladakh for the timely completion of their projects.

China Lures Millions of Tourists to Tibet

Tibet, which existed independently upto 1950, comprises approximately one-fourth of China’s landmass today.Tibet, traditionally, encompassed the regions of the central plateau, Khamand Amdo. After annexing Tibet, China separated Amdo (the present DalaiLama’s birthplace) as the new Qinghai province, carved the central plateauand eastern Kham into the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), and latermerged the remaining parts of Tibet into the Chinese provinces of Sichuan,Yunnan and Gansu.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama congratulates the Mongolian President-Elect

His Holiness the Dalai Lama/File Photo by Ven Tenzin Jamphel/OHHDL

By  –  Staff Reporter

His Holiness the Dalai Lama has written to His Excellency Uknaa Kurelsukh to congratulate him on his election as the President of Mongolia.

“I have warm memories of your country,” he wrote, “which I first visited in 1979. I have been encouraged by the interest and enthusiasm shown by Mongolians both young and old in my efforts to promote human values, as well as the need to combine traditional Buddhist knowledge with modern education.

“Historically, the people of Mongolia and we Tibetans have been like twin brothers and sisters. The Dalai Lamas have enjoyed a unique and close relationship with your people since the time of the Third Dalai Lama, Sonam Gyatso.

“As I have mentioned during my visits to Mongolia, although there are other faiths in the country, it is Buddhism that has historically shaped the identity, culture and spiritual life of your people. Since the Buddha’s teachings emphasize such fundamental human values as compassion and non-violence, they have the potential to be of benefit, without contradicting an individual’s personal beliefs. I trust that you and your government will continue to preserve and uphold these values.

“In recent years, Mongolia has made impressive material progress, which is commendable. I am sure it will improve the lives of ordinary Mongolians.”

His Holiness ended his letter by wishing the President-Elect every success in fulfilling the hopes and aspirations of the people of Mongolia.

Ahead of UN COP26, OOT London to host ‘The Tibetan Plateau, Addressing the Third Pole Climate Crisis’ conference

By  — Staff Reporter

London: As part of its campaign in the run-up to UN COP26 in Glasgow, the Office of Tibet, London is organising a two-day Environment conference on “The Tibetan Plateau, Addressing the Third Pole Climate Crisis” at Royal Geographical Society, London on 25 – 26 June.

The panel discussions will be broadcast live via the Office of Tibet London Facebook page from 10:45 am BST.

The speakers are:

1. Keynote address by Honourable Sikyong Penpa Tsering – President, Central Tibetan Administration, India
2. Dr Martin Mills – Director of Scottish Centre for Himalaya Research, Aberdeen University, Scotland. He works for the Scottish Parliament as Secretary of the Cross-Party Group on Tibet and is Director of the Scottish Centre for Himalayan Research at Aberdeen. He is the author of Identity, Ritual and State in Tibetan Buddhism (Routledge, 2003) and numerous research article on Tibetan religion, culture and history.
3. Tenzin Choekyi – Senior Researcher at Tibet Watch where she monitors and researches human rights and policy changes inside Tibet. She has previously worked as Advocacy Associate for International Campaigns for Tibet and holds a Masters in Environmental Science and Policy.
4. Dr Lobsang Yangtso – Researcher, International Tibet Network. She joined the Jawaharlal Nehru University for M.Phil in Chinese Studies, Centre for East Asian Studies and completed her PhD and her thesis titled “China’s Environmental Security Policies in Tibet: Implications to India, 2001-2013” from the same department. Currently, she works as a Research and Campaign Assistant to International Tibet Network.
5. Isabel Hilton – Founder and Editor of Chinadialogue, an independent, non-profit organization based in London, Beijing and San Francisco. She has reported from China, South Asia, Latin America, Africa, the Middle East and Europe and has written and presented several documentaries for BBC radio and television.
6. Kerry McCarthy – Labour MP for Bristol East, England. She is a member of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Tibet in the UK.
7. Thinlay Chukki – Special Appointee for Human Rights at The Tibet Bureau, Geneva. Earlier to this, she worked as a researcher at UN-EU and Human Rights Desk, Central Tibetan Administration, Dharamshala in India. She has also served as a translator to His Holiness the Dalai Lama on several occasions.

– Filed by Office of Tibet, London

European aid continues to arrive in Nepal, vaccines expected by end of year

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Medical aid from various European Countries has continued to land in Nepal to combat COVID-19, while COVID-19 vaccines are expected to be provided by the end of the year.

Addressing a press conference, German Ambassador to Nepal, Roland Schafer said: “The European Union is the biggest provider of vaccines worldwide. We have been providing two hundred and 40 million dosages worldwide. It is the same amount of vaccine that we have used inside the European Union. Right now we have a commitment from European vaccine producers that they will provide 1.2 billion dosage by the end of year to be shared with small and lower income countries including Nepal.”

The event was organised at the tarmac of Tribhuwan International Airport, which is committed to provide the vaccines to the Himalayan Nation by the end of 2021. It is the third aid that Nepal has received from Germany under European Union’s Civil Protection Mechanism in less than a week.

A total of 62 ventilators, 27,500 FFP2 mask, 30,000 surgical masks, 100 gum boots, 200 body bags, five isolation center tents, and 25,000 liters of disinfectant arrived on Tuesday, as per the release from Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The materials were handed over to Minister for Health and Population, Sher Bahadur Tamang by German Ambassador Schafer. Ambassadors of the Delegation of the European Union, France and Finland were also present on the occasion.

After hitting a peak in May, Nepal has continued to record a sliding number of infections. Nepal as per today recorded 5,153 new cases of COVID-19 with 6,570 recoveries and 108 deaths.

According to the latest data from the Ministry of Health and Population, a total of 12,065 PCR tests and 5,611 antigen tests were conducted across the country. Of them, 3,870 PCR tests and 1,383 antigen tests turned out to be positive.

There are currently 76,550 COVID-19 patients in home isolation, 6,186 in institutional isolation, 1,321 in ICUs and 372 on ventilators in the country. Likewise, Kathmandu Valley recorded 1,226 new cases of COVID-19 on the same day. Of them, 836 were detected in Kathmandu, 121 in Bhaktapur and 269 in Lalitpur districts.

Nepal’s COVID-19 case tally now stands at 611,308 including 504,540 recoveries and 8,098 deaths as of Tuesday afternoon.

Source  –  (ANI)

Tripitaka Koreana’ to be open to public for first time

International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) India receive a generous donation of 33 Ventilators from The Embassy of Vietnam

Mr. Shakti Sinha, Director General, IBC received the donated Ventilators from H.E the Ambassador in a simple ceremony at Vietnam Embassy in New Delhi. In his speech, Mr. Shakti Sinha expressed gratitude on behalf of IBC.

Yesterday International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), India received a generous donation of 33 Ventilators from H. E. Mr. Pham Sanh Chau, the Ambassador of Vietnam in India. This critical lifesaving equipment was donated to IBC for its Care with Prayer initiative of Covid Aid to India and Nepal by Giac Ngo temple and Vietnam Buddhist University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam courtesy Most Ven. Thich Nhat Tu, the Abbot and Vice-Rector.

Mr. Shakti Sinha, Director General, IBC received the donated Ventilators from H.E the Ambassador in a simple ceremony at Vietnam Embassy in New Delhi. In his speech, Mr. Shakti Sinha expressed gratitude on behalf of IBC and the beneficiaries of the Aid for the generosity of the Vietnamese people and their solidarity with India in its time of need.

He also mentioned that the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha has been a pillar of support to IBC since its founding in 2011 and the Supreme Buddhist Patriarch Thich Po Tue is also Patron of IBC. In addition Most Ven Thich Tri Quang, Ven Thich Thien Tam, Most Ven. Thich Duc Thien is among the senior-most in the IBC hierarchy. Ven. Thich Nhat Tu is also a member of the IBCs Empowered Committee and also the founding member of IBC. Ven Thich Nhat Tu has been in its Governing Council ever since.

IBC is receiving 33 Ventilators for its Care with Prayer initiative to help combat the second wave of Covid pandemic in India and Nepal. These Ventilators will now be sent to various hospitals in India and Nepal.

IBC headquarter is in Vigyan Bhawan Annexe, Bldg New Delhi, and is also a grantee body of Ministry of Culture, Govt of India and has a presence in 37 countries and work largest International Buddhist body.

Mission: Joy—Finding Happiness in Troubled Times: Featuring His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Dharamshala: Nobel peace laureates and co-authors of the Book of Joy, His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu will be coming together once again to share with the world their joyful insights on overcoming adversities and social injustices.

In a documentary titled ‘Mission: Joy—Finding Happiness in Troubled Times’, award-winning director Louie Psihoyos captures moving conversations between two global icons whose resistance against adversity has marked our modern history.

“Through rare archival footage and affecting animation, the documentary reflects upon their personal hardships as well as the burden both men carry as world leaders dedicated to bringing justice to and fighting authoritarianism in their communities,” says Michelle Hamada, Tribeca Film.

‘Mission: Joy—Finding Happiness in Troubled Times’ is scheduled to premiere via Tribeca Online Premieres starting 12 June in US.

India says BRICS guided by sovereign equality of all states, respect for territorial integrity

BRICS foreign ministers

By  — Shyamal Sinha

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on  told BRICS leaders that the grouping has come a long way as it is based on the United Nations’ charter that recognizes sovereign equality of all states and respect for their territorial integrity.

“We have come a long way from the first time our foreign ministers met in New York in 2006. But the principles that guide our grouping remain consistent over the years,” Jaishankar said in his opening remarks during BRICS foreign ministers meeting chaired by him.

“We strive for a fair, just, inclusive, equitable and representative multi-polar international system. It is one based on international law and the UN Charter, that recognizes the sovereign equality of all states and respects their territorial integrity while displaying mutual respect for interests and concerns of all. It is only by conducting our policies in accordance with these principles that we can expect to bring about the change we desire,” he added.

Foreign ministers of all BRICS countries, including Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, were present when Jaishankar underlined sovereignty and territorial integrity in his opening remarks.

China and India were engaged in a bitter standoff last year in eastern Ladakh. Soldiers from both sides lost their lives in a bloody escalation in Galwan Valley.

India accused China of violating its territorial integrity. Several meetings between Chinese and Indian defence and diplomatic leadership took place after the clashes and the process of disengagement is still incomplete. However, tensions have relatively eased between the two Asian giants.

Wang Yi said that China is ready to work with BRICS countries to support India as the chair and ensure tangible outcomes in BRICS cooperation.

“I look forward to exchanging views, coordinating positions and building consensus with you on issues of shared interests to help this meeting a success. Together we will take solid steps to deeper BRICS cooperation in the political and security field,” he said.

In his remarks, Jaishankar also said that over the years BRICS has evolved its unique model of engagement that is based on consensus. “Our collective endeavour is also to ensure global decision making reflects contemporary reality. To this end, we have identified four key deliverables for our Chairship – Reform of the Multilateral System, Counter Terrorism Cooperation, Using Digital and Technological Solutions to achieve SDGs, and Enhancing People to People Cooperation.”

Russia echoed India’s remarks and supported a central role for it in the UN.

“We support the initiative by Indian minister. We need to reform multilateral system firmly built-in on international law reiterating the central role of the universal, the most inclusive United nations in the global affairs. There is an unprecdented for for the single voice of BRICS on this,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.

South Africa raised the issue of the global vaccine gap and also mentioned the TRIPS waiver issue.

“We have a global dilemma. Millions of people in wealthier nations have been vaccinated while millions of people in poorer countries still wait and vulnerable to infection to disease and death,” South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor said.

She said South Africa and India submitted a proposal to the WTO for a temporary waiver of certain aspects of TRIPS to facilitate wider aspects of technology needed to produce vaccines and treatment and diagnosis.

The minister said the agreement will allow intellectual property, sharing of technologies, technology transfer and production of vaccines and wider distribution.

“We must address this global gap of vaccine access,” she said.

All BRICS leaders expressed their sympathy for the loss of lives during the second wave of COVID-19 in India and assured continued support.

The Chinese Foreign Minister said, ” In these trying times China stands in solidarity with India and all BRICS countries and India will certainly overcome pandemic.

Source  – (ANI)

BRICS foreign ministers to hold virtual meeting on Tuesday

By   —  Staff Reporter

Boosting cooperation in effectively dealing with the coronavirus pandemic is expected to figure prominently at a virtual meeting of the foreign ministers of India, China and three other member countries of the BRICS grouping on Tuesday.

The foreign ministers are also likely to discuss the need for reforming the multilateral system and ways to enhance cooperation in countering terrorism, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Monday.

India is hosting the meeting as the chair of BRICS (Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa).

The MEA said External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will chair the meeting and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, Chinese counterpart Wang Yi and the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa Grace Naledi Mandisa Pandor are expected to participate.

Brazilian Foreign Minister Carlos Alberto Franco is also likely to attend the virtual meeting.

‘The ministers are expected to exchange views on the COVID-19 pandemic situation, the need for strengthening and reforming the multilateral system with a view to enhancing its capacity to effectively address the diverse challenges of our time and to adapt them to contemporary realities,’ the MEA said in a statement.

It said global and regional matters of concern, sustainable development and countering terrorism are the other issues that are likely to figure during the deliberations.

The foreign ministers are also likely to delve into ways to enhance the intra-BRICS cooperation, especially people-to-people cooperation.

The BRICS is known as an influential bloc that represents over 360 crore people and its member countries have a combined GDP of USD 16.6 trillion.

India is the BRICS chair for 2021. This is the third time that the country is holding the BRICS chairship after 2012 and 2016.

India’s chairship of the grouping has coincided with its 15th anniversary, making it an opportune moment to review its work.

The theme and approach for India’s BRICS chairship is ‘BRICS@15: Intra BRICS Cooperation for Continuity, Consolidation and Consensus’.

The BRICS brings together five of the world’s largest developing countries, representing 41 per cent of the global population, 24 per cent of the global GDP and 16 per cent of the global trade.

The foreign ministers of the bloc first met in 2006 and the first BRICS summit was held in 2009.

The New Development Bank (NDB), the flagship outcome of BRICS, continues to fund projects in infrastructure and sustainable development.

It is learnt that 76 projects worth over USD 28 billion have so far been approved by the NDB in BRICS countries.

source – PTI

Penpa Tsering sworn in as the Sikyong of 16th Kashag

Dharamshala: In what His Holiness the Dalai Lama viewed as yet another “proud day” for Tibetan democracy, Mr Penpa Tsering was sworn in as the Sikyong of the 16th Kashag here this morning at the Tibetan Supreme Justice Commission, Gangchen Kyishong.

Mr Tsering is the 5th directly elected Sikyong (earlier known as Kalon Tripa). He succeeds Dr Lobsang Sangay as the 3rd Sikyong to be elected since the complete devolution of political authority by His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 2011.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama addressed the event virtually and congratulated the new Sikyong Penpa Tsering, while commending the outgoing Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay for his outstanding service during his two tenure over the last 10 years.

Dwelling on his efforts to democratise the Tibetan polity in Tibet and later in exile, His Holiness said that the Tibetan democracy in exile is not a sham, but a genuine democracy comparable to all other world democracies.

As Tibetan Chief Justice Commissioner Sonam Norbu Dagpo administered the oath of office and secrecy to Sikyong Penpa Tsering, more than 20 thousand people from across the world watched the event live online with great gusto.

In light of prevailing restrictions to curb the spread of Covid, the swearing-in ceremony was attended by only a select group of dignitaries: Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay, new Sikyong Penpa Tsering, Chief Justice Commissioner Sonam Norbu Dagpo, Kashag Secretary Tsegyal Chukya Dranyi and Secretary Tashi Gyatso Shadrong of the Supreme Justice Commission.

The ceremony completes a smooth transfer of power from the outgoing Sikyong to the new Sikyong Penpa Tsering and his administration.

India is proud of our scientists who have worked on Covid-19 vaccines: PM Modi

Delivering the keynote address on the occasion of “Virtual Vesak Global Celebrations” on Buddha Purnima, he said the world has not seen a pandemic like this in a century.

However, he added, there is now a better understanding of the pandemic and described vaccine as absolutely important to save lives and defeat the virus.

“We now have a better understanding of pandemic which strengthens our strategy to fight. We have the vaccine which is important to save lives and defeat the pandemic. India is proud of our scientists who have worked on the Covid-19 vaccines,” said PM Modi.

He also extended condolences to those who have suffered and lost near and dear ones in the pandemic.

“I once again salute our frontline healthcare workers, doctors, nurses who selflessly risk their lives every day to serve others in need, to those who have suffered & lost their dear ones. I extend condolences,” said PM Modi.

Virtual Vesak Global Celebration on Buddha Purnima event was organised by Culture Ministry in collaboration with the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC).

President, Top  Leaders Extend Greetings on Buddha Purnima

By  —   Shyamal Sinha

President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and other leaders  greeted people on the occasion of Buddha Purnima, the birth anniversary of Gautam Buddha. In a tweet President Kovind said that “the teachings of Lord Buddha show us the path of liberation from suffering. Let us follow the path of wisdom, compassion & service shown by the Buddha and get rid of COVID-19 through our collective resolve & concerted efforts.”

Greeting people on the occasion, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu said that “Lord Buddha’s eternal message of peace, brotherhood & compassion continues to inspire humanity across the globe. On this occasion, let us commit ourselves to the path of compassion & tolerance shown by Lord Buddha.”

Earlier on Tuesday Naidu extended greetings saying that people should commit themselves to the path of compassion and tolerance shown by Lord Buddha. Buddha Purnima is observed to mark the birth anniversary of Lord Buddha. “Lord Buddha was one of the most illustrious spiritual leaders to have walked this earth. The eternal message of peace, brotherhood and compassion bestowed by Lord Buddha continues to inspire humanity across the globe to strive towards leading a life based on moral values and contentment,” the Vice President said in his message. In our country, festivals are a great occasion for family and friends to come together and celebrate, Naidu noted.

“But given the situation of the COVID-19 pandemic, I urge my fellow citizens to celebrate this festival at home and by adhering to Covid health and hygiene protocols,” he said. On this happy occasion, the Vice President said, “let us commit ourselves to the path of compassion and tolerance shown by Lord Buddha”.

External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar also extended his greeting. He tweeted: Greetings on the auspicious occasion of #BuddhaPurnima. Gautam Buddha’s teachings of compassion, tolerance and social justice continue to guide us.”

Law & Justice, Communications, Electronics & Information Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad wished people “with peace, prosperity and happiness on the auspicious occasion of #BuddhaPurnima”.

Kashag’s appeal on global observance of Buddha Purnima

The UN General Assembly, by its resolution 54/115 of 1999, recognized internationally the Day of Vesak to acknowledge the contribution that Buddhism, one of the oldest religions in the world, has made for over two and a half millennia and continues to make to the spirituality of humanity based on its values of wisdom, compassion, and tolerance. This day is commemorated annually at the UN Headquarters and other UN offices, in consultation with the relevant UN offices and with permanent missions. The first official celebration was held at the UN headquarters in New York in 2000.

In the light of the ever-growing appreciation for Buddhist teachings and values that have come to serve as a beacon for lasting solutions, the Kashag has appealed Tibetan Buddhist community worldwide to henceforth actively take part in the international observance of Buddha Purnima and engage in a mutually enriching dialogue with other religious traditions, thereby advancing the commitment of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to promote harmony among the world’s religious traditions.

Tomorrow 26 May marks the Saga Dawa Düchen (Tib. ས་ག་ཟླ་བ་དུས་ཆེན་), the ‘Festival of Vaishakha’ — one of the four major Buddhist holidays. It occurs on the full moon (the 15th day) of the fourth Tibetan lunar month called Saga Dawa in Tibetan. It celebrates Buddha Shakyamuni’s enlightenment and parinirvana. 

According to the Mahayana Buddhist tradition, Saga Dawa is considered the most auspicious day for spiritual practice as the karmic accumulations of all positive and negative are believed to be multiplied exponentially.

For Tibetan Buddhists, the month inspires the highest expressions of devotion to one’s spiritual teacher and Buddhist practice. Buddhist adherents engage in rigorous study of Buddhist texts, contemplations and receive many teachings from revered lamas

source – cta

We’ll be wiped out if we can’t control COVID now: Bhutan PM

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Thimphu [Bhutan], May 24 (ANI): Bhutan Prime Minister Lotay Tshering has expressed concern over the prevailing threat of COVID-19 in the country and said: “We will be wiped out if we can’t control the virus now.”

In an address to the nation on Friday, Prime Minister Tshering reminded people of the threat the pandemic still posed even after a year and half of its emergence in the country, reported Kuensel.

“Many in the country thought that after experiencing two episodes of COVID-19 outbreak, the worst was over. The vaccination programme also came as a ray of hope for many,” Lyonchhen said adding “But look where we are today.”

He said that it was inevitable that Bhutan too felt the impact of the worsening situation in the region, adding that despite all the preparations, there was no guarantee that the country would not experience what India was going through.

“The threat from the southern borders has now reached the east. If we are not careful, we will suffer the same fate as our neighbours.” he said during his address.

Lyonchhen said that this was because the SARS-CoV-2 virus was fast mutating and it was becoming more transmissible and overwhelming. He said that the country was being slowly surrounded from all corners and if adequate control measures were not put in place and if people did not adhere to the preventive measures, the country would be overwhelmed within no time.

“We will be wiped out in no time if we cannot control the spread now,” the prime minister said.

Meanwhile, Trashigang town was put under a lockdown starting at 7 pm on May 21. All flights to the Yonphula domestic airport were also suspended.

The country reported 1,392 positive COVID-19 cases with one death so far, as per World Health Organisation on Sunday. A total of 482,038 vaccine doses have been administered during the said period.

Tibetans have a new political leader. his role and initiative

Buddhists invited to attend Visakha Bucha activities online

By   —  Shyamal Sinha

Culture Minister, Ittipol Khunplome, has revealed that the resurgence of Covid-19 has again put a limit on Visakha Bucha Day religious activities, hosted annually by the Department of Religious Affairs (DRA) in cooperation with the clergy and other public and private businesses.

In Thailand, Buddha’s birthday is known as Visakha Bucha Day.When is Buddha Purnima?

Buddha Purnima is the most sacred day in the Buddhist calendar. It is the most important festival of the Buddhists and is celebrated with great enthusiasm.

Although Buddhists regard every full moon as sacred, the moon of the month of Vaisakh has special significance because on this day the Buddha was born, attained enlightenment (nirvana), and attained parinirvana (nirvana-after-death of the body) when he died.

To help flatten the curve of the contagion, this year’s activities on 26 May will now strictly follow preventive measures from the Ministry of Public Health. Buddhists are thereby encouraged to participate in Visakha Bucha Day 2021 “new normally” via online platforms.

The minister also addressed the ongoing cooperation between DRA and a network of clergy to host online activities from 20-26 May, to promote understanding of the essence of Buddhism. Religious practices, such as making offerings to the Buddha, will be broadcast live on the NBT channel from Wat Phra Chetuphon Vimolmangklararm on 26 May from 8.30 pm to 9 pm, along with the chanting of Buddhist mantras and traditional candle-lit temple walks.

Organisers have also put together an online exhibition of the Buddha’s life. Thus Buddhists at home can still join Visakha Bucha Day celebrations through the Stay Home, Make Merit app. Essential doctrines, insights and sermons from several monks of repute are also featured on the platform. Visitors can also write down their resolutions to perform good deeds using the Buddha’s teachings as guidance. Candle-lit temple walks can be safely joined online at www.เวียนเทียนออนไลน์.com.

To support the continued promotion of Buddhism, a Visakha Bucha Day E-Booklet is available at no cost on “Stay Home, Make Merit” application, DRA’s Facebook page, and www.dra.co.th.

On Buddha Purnima, people dress in white clothes and give out kheer (a rice pudding) as, according to legend, a woman named Sujata once offered Gautam Buddha kheer on his birthday and it has since become a tradition.

The dharmacakra or dharma wheel is a symbol often seen during Vesak. It is a wooden wheel with eight spokes. The wheel represents Buddha’s teaching on the path to enlightenment. The eight spokes symbolize the noble eightfold path of Buddhism.

source – Bangkok post

Buddhist Times News – Indian Embassy celebrates Vesak Day through webinar in Cambodia

The Indian Embassy in Cambodia celebrates Vesak Day via webinar on Sunday. Facebook

India launches first of its kind app that teaches Sanskrit

By  —  Shyamal Sinha

Indian government has launched first-ever app that enables the user to learn Sanskrit, the ancient language of the country. The app created by Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) has been named ‘Little Guru’.

In Sanskrit verbal adjective sáṃskṛta- is a compound word consisting of sáṃ (together, good, well, perfected) and kṛta- made, formed, work.

The app aims to make learning Sanskrit easy and entertaining by ‘gamifying’ it. It has been developed by Bengaluru-based company Gamapp sportswizz. The app is available on Google Play Store.

Sanskrit is the sacred language of Hinduism, the language of classical Hindu philosophy, and of historical texts of Buddhism and Jainism. It was a link language in ancient and medieval South Asia, and upon transmission of Hindu and Buddhist culture to Southeast Asia, East Asia and Central Asia in the early medieval era, it became a language of religion and high culture, and of the political elites in some of these regions. As a result, Sanskrit had a lasting impact on the languages of South Asia, Southeast Asia and East Asia, especially in their formal and learned vocabularies.

The most archaic of these is Vedic Sanskrit found in the Rig Veda, a collection of 1,028 hymns composed between 1500 BCE and 1200 BCE by Indo-Aryan tribes migrating east from what today is Afghanistan across northern Pakistan and into northern India. Vedic Sanskrit interacted with the preexisting ancient languages of the subcontinent, absorbing names of newly encountered plants and animals; in addition, the ancient Dravidian languages influenced Sanskrit’s phonology and syntax. “Sanskrit” can also more narrowly refer to Classical Sanskrit, a refined and standardized grammatical form that emerged in the mid-1st millennium BCE and was codified in the most comprehensive of ancient grammars, the Aṣṭādhyāyī (“Eight chapters”) of Pāṇini.The greatest dramatist in Sanskrit Kālidāsa wrote in classical Sanskrit, and the foundations of modern arithmetic were first described in classical Sanskrit.The two major Sanskrit epics, the Mahābhārata and the Rāmāyaṇa, however, were composed in a range of oral storytelling registers called Epic Sanskrit which was used in northern India between 400 BCE and 300 CE, and roughly contemporary with classical Sanskrit.

“Little guru is a beautiful symbol of what we proposed to do in teaching to people across the world. This app will help students, teachers, monks…to be able to get an app that will help them learn easier at their own pace, whatever time they want. It helps you do better,” said Dinesh Patnaik, director general of ICCR.

“We realised something, we need something more modern, more up to date. Which works with technology, to bring this ancient language to the people…We decided to use modern-day tools like machine learning, AI, and gaming techniques. Gaming techniques help in bringing life to language,” he said.

Sankrit is often called the ‘language of the Gods’ in Indian culture. ICCR has been providing Sanskrit books and other material to help people learn the language. ICCR comes under India’s Ministry of External Affairs. It also deputes teachers, professors to universities and institutes.

Indian diaspora as well as foreigners have been requesting ICCR for assistance in Sanskrit learning. Many Buddhist, Jain and other religious texts are in Sanskrit. There has been great demand from some countries for assistance in learning the language.

Many Indian languages like Bengali, Tamil, Marathi use Sanskrit as a base.

A number of universities teaching Sanskrit across the world have been keen for an app that helps not only the current students but also other young scholars who wish to learn Sanskrit before joining universities.

Sanskrit’s status, function, and place in India’s cultural heritage are recognized by its inclusion in the Constitution of India‘s Eighth Schedule languages.

Interestingly, a fact that is well known, that in the 80s, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) also did a study to know which is the most computerable language. They realized given its clear grammatical structure and strict pronunciation that Sanskrit was the most computerable language in the world as its structure allowed it to merge into any computerable system.

The Sanskrit language scholar Moriz Winternitz states, Sanskrit was never a dead language and it is still alive though its prevalence is lesser than ancient and medieval times. Sanskrit remains an integral part of Hindu journals, festivals, Ramlila plays, drama, rituals and the rites-of-passage.

Sanskrit is the sacred language of various Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain traditions. It is used during worship in Hindu temples. In Newar Buddhism, it is used in all monasteries, while Mahayana and Tibetan Buddhist religious texts and sutras are in Sanskrit as well as vernacular languages. Some of the revered texts of Jainism including the Tattvartha sutra, Ratnakaranda śrāvakācāra, the Bhaktamara Stotra and later versions of the Agamas are in Sanskrit. Further, states Paul Dundas, Sanskrit mantras and Sanskrit as a ritual language was commonplace among Jains throughout their medieval history.

Buddhist Times News – Cambodia’s Angkor temple complex to remain shut till 20 April

By  —  Shyamal Sinha

Cambodia is shutting its most popular tourist destination, the centuries-old Angkor temple complex, to visitors for two weeks to help curb the country’s coronavirus outbreak.

Angkor, in Cambodia’s northern province of Siem Reap, is one of the most important archaeological sites in Southeast Asia.

The closing of the world-famous site is the latest in a slew of measures the country is taking after the number of coronavirus cases surged in February.

The Apsara Authority, the government agency that oversees the archaeological site, said that temporarily stopping local and foreign tourists from visiting the temples is important to help combat the virus. It said in a statement dated Wednesday that visitors are banned from 7 April through 20 April.

The Angkor site, in the northwestern province of Siem Reap, attracted 2.2 million foreign tourists in 2019, but experienced a sharp falloff last year due to disruptions caused by the pandemic. Cambodia allows in tourists, but they must undergo a quarantine.

The Health Ministry on Thursday announced 113 new local cases of the coronavirus and two deaths. Cambodia has recorded a total of 3,028 cases, including 23 deaths.

The ministry has traced the latest outbreak to a foreign resident who broke quarantine in a hotel and went to a nightclub in early February. The government on 20 February announced a planned two-week closure of all public schools, cinemas, bars and entertainment venues in the capital, Phnom Penh.

As the number of cases rose, the closures were extended throughout the country for schools, gyms, concert halls, museums and other gathering places.

A defunct luxury hotel in the capital has been converted into a 500-room coronavirus hospital, and the authorities are enforcing a new law imposing criminal punishment for violating health rules.

The use of face masks was made mandatory in Phnom Penh and four of the country’s most densely populated provinces.

The government stepped up other restrictions at the start of this month, including a two-week, 8 pm to 5 am curfew in Phnom Penh.

It also broadened its coronavirus vaccination campaign, targeting 1 million doses a month beginning in April. Through the end of March, about 400,000 people €” about one-third of them members of the armed forces €” had received vaccinations.

By the end of March, Cambodia had acquired more than 3.1 million doses of vaccines from China and through the World Health Organisation’s COVAX initiative. Cambodia has a population of about 17 million.

For several centuries Angkor was the center of the Khmer Kingdom. With impressive monuments, several different ancient urban plans, and large water reservoirs, the site is a unique concentration of features testifying to an exceptional civilization. Temples such as Angkor Wat, the Bayon, Preah Khan, and Ta Prohm, exemplars of Khmer architecture, are closely linked to their geographical context as well as being imbued with symbolic significance. The architecture and layout of the successive capitals bear witness to a high level of social order and ranking within the Khmer Empire. Angkor is, therefore, a major site exemplifying cultural, religious and symbolic values, as well as containing high architectural, archaeological and artistic significance.

Prime Minister Hun Sen said this week on his social media channels that vaccinations are voluntary, but that civil servants and members of the military would be at risk of being dismissed if they fail to be inoculated.

source – Firstpost