In a view to honor the contributions made by Bhutanese martyrs, the first in a series of three-fold Martyr’s Salvation Programs in accordance with the Hindu, Buddhist and Christian methodologies kicked off today in Atlanta.
Days after the declaration of the establishment of Punya Foundation through Bhutan News Service, it has organized a three-day Salvation program based on Hindu methodologies at the Hindu-Buddhist Spiritual Center in Atlanta, Georgia.
- Resettled Bhutanese in Atlanta show up to participate in the program.
According to Lakshmi Dhakal, Director of the Foundation, the other two programs based on Christian and Buddhist methodologies are scheduled for December 26 and January 1 in Washington and Nepal respectively.
The coordinator of the program in Georgia, Pashupati Timsina, informed BNS over telephone that there are seven Acharyas (spiritual masters or preceptors) reciting the sacred texts of Shrimad Bhagawat (holy epic of Hinduism) and Kashi Nath Ghimire is scheduled to recite prabachan (religious sermon).
According to Timsina, the organizers also publicized the names of at least 52 martyrs collected by the Foundation so far. The actual number of martyrs in Bhutan, however, cannot be confirmed independently. Timsina further informed BNS that a minute ‘mourn silence’ was also observed by the program attending resettled Bhutanese for the peace settlement of the demise souls.
Talking to the BNS on Skype conversation from the Netherlands, the Director of the Foundation has further urged fellow Bhutanese and concerned individuals and families to supply details of martyrs they know of and yet missed to be enlisted in the Foundation’s record.
Meanwhile, on the occasion of the program, Tek Bir Chhetri, Chairman of the Foundation, has said that the Salvation is an honor for our martyrs who gave their lives to the general cause.
“We are indebted by the cost of their lives and the vision they had for us. They have died for us and therefore they cannot be in that status of someone but “our own martyrs” who lived with us to cherish our goal. To honor them, we bow down in reverence. We are assembled here to pray through the different rituals we practice and in the days ahead, we shall all pray for them through different actions that Punya Foundation has envisioned,” said Chhetri, whose message was delivered by Damber Timsina. Chhetri is reported to be on his way to the program venue.
Chhetri has further stated that Bhutanese are standing in a very crucial time in the history of societal life. “Our collective strength and hope shall always bring us that day that our martyrs dreamt. Let us work towards the realization of this dream and the hope to usher in Justice forever,” said Chhetri.
