Itanagar: Over 200 monks from different countries completed a week of religious ceremony paving way for work on a giant pagoda and international meditation centre atop Lalpahari hill in Arunachal Pradesh today.

About 230 monks completed a week long chanting of Tripitaka and Bhumi Siddhi for purification of place for construction of a 209 feet pagoda and an international meditation centre 23 km from Namsai in Lohit district.

Braving heavy rain thousands of people of the Khamti tribes gathered there to witness the chanting.

According to local MLA C P Namchoom the area is being developed as a Buddhist centre which will also attract foreign tourists. The complex will also house a library containing literature and holy books on Buddhism.

Discourses and meditations sessions were also organised simultaneously during the week long Tripitaka chanting by monks belonging to both Theravada and Mahayana sects. Lighting of fire balloons every evening was one of the attractions of the programme, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Namsai, R K Sharma told PTI.

Khamthis, who are believed to have Thai origin, have been largely influenced by Buddhism in their culture and way of life and all their festivals have a touch of Buddhism.
Source : PTI