Buddhists celebrate birthday of 8th century monk, Guru Rinpoche

Gangtok, Aug 18 : Buddhists here celebrated the birthday of eighth century monk, Guru Padmasambhava, also known as Guru Rinpoche, with great pomp.

Hundreds of Buddhist monks and residents participated in the festivities.

The celebrations commemorated the guru's contribution to world peace.

Devotees carried a statue of the Guru Padmasambhava through the main streets and chanted hymns to the accompaniment of traditional drum beats. The procession which started from Chorten monastery culminated at Tsuklakhang Monastery (Royal Palace Monastery).

Acharya Padmasambhava was a Tantric master who founded the Vajrayana Buddhism, which took firm roots in Tibet in the eighth century.

ANI