Dalai Lama visits historical Buddhist monastery in Ladakh

Ladakh, July 29 (ANI): Tibetan spiritual leader, Dalai Lama visited an old Buddhist monastery in Ladakh's Nubra valley of Jammu and Kashmir in the course of his nine-day visit to the region.

He consecrated an idol of Maitreya and later delivered series of sermons at various other monasteries on Wednesday.

"Today, Dalai Lama came here and since morning he was busy in recitations and delivering sermons to his disciples and followers. He was present there and gave sermons near the Maîtreya statue and other Lamas were also there. After that he gave teaching lessons on Bhodhisatva teaching," said Pempa Tsering, speaker of Tibetan Parliament in-exile.

Buddhist monks welcomed the Dalai Lama with traditional fervor at the monastery, playing religious musical instruments and drums.

Hundreds of Ladakhi and Tibetan Buddhists attended the sermons by the Dalai Lama.

The statue of Lord Maîtreya Buddha or the future Buddha is the tallest in the Ladakh region, which has a significant population of Buddhist followers.

Built under the leadership of Thiksay Rinpoche of the Diskit monastery, this idol was completed in six years at a cost of 30 million rupees. By Jigmet Angchuk (ANI)