Bhutan consecrates 108 stupas at Gelephu – King dedicates 'Stupa No. 76' to PM Narendra Modi

2 November 2026 · English

Topics: Prisons, Aviation, External Affairs & Ports · 2 November 2026 Current Affairs (UPSC / TNPSC / SSC / RRB)

News

On Lhabab Duchen, on 1 Nov 2026 (Sunday), 108 stupas erected in a single day were consecrated at Bhutan's 'Gelephu Mindfulness City' (Sarpang district, near the Assam border). Bhutan's King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck dedicated 'Stupa No. 76' among them to PM Narendra Modi, recognising his support for India–Bhutan friendship and the Gelephu project. Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju represented India (visit 31 Oct – 2 Nov) and prayed at Stupa 76 with the King and PM Tshering Tobgay. Each stupa is 15 m tall, spaced 108 m apart along an 11.7-km stretch of the Aie (Mau) River; over 40,000 volunteers, monks and artisans took part.

Key facts

Background

• Religion: Lhabab Duchen marks the Buddha's descent to earth after teaching his mother Mayadevi and the gods for three months in the 'Heaven of the Thirty-Three' (Trayastrimsha – Indra's realm); 22nd day of the 9th Tibetan month. By tradition he descended at Sankassa (Sankisa, Uttar Pradesh).
• Art and history: a stupa is a hemispherical memorial enshrining relics of the Buddha or monks, symbolising the Buddha's enlightened mind. In Bhutan it is called a 'chorten'.
• Geography and economy: Gelephu Mindfulness City – conceived by the King and designed by Danish architects as an economic hub that puts sustainability and citizens' well-being first. It adjoins Assam's Bodoland region; a Kokrajhar–Gelephu rail line is planned. Indian States bordering Bhutan: Sikkim, West Bengal, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
• India–Bhutan ties: Friendship Treaty 1949 (revised 2007); hydropower projects such as Chukha, Tala, Mangdechhu and Punatsangchhu-II. In March 2024 Modi received Bhutan's highest civilian award, the 'Order of the Druk Gyalpo' – the first foreign head of government to get it.

Tamil Nadu link: among the five great Tamil epics, 'Manimekalai' (by Seethalai Saathanar) is a Buddhist epic; 'Kundalakesi' is also Buddhist. The Chinese pilgrim Xuanzang (7th century CE) described the Pallava capital Kanchipuram as a Buddhist centre.

Source: PTI / The Tribune, Assam Tribune, Daily Jagran, 1–2 Nov 2026; Kiren Rijiju's X post

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