2,000-year-old Ashoka Stupa to be inaugurated in China

BEIJING: A 2,000-year-old Stupa constructed by emperor Ashoka in China's Nangchen which fell into ruin has been restored and is set to be unveiled on Tuesday by spiritual head of Ladakh-based Drukpa Buddhism.

Situated close to Tibet autonomous region, the renovated Stupa enshrined with precious Buddhist relics is a precious structure of the Budhha followers. It underwent a renovation and restoration process in the last a few years and would be inaugurated by Gyalwang Drukpa, spiritual head of Drukpa Buddhism on September 15.

Out of the 84,000 Stupas that Ashoka had constructed to enshrine the precious relics of the Buddha, 19 were constructed in China but most of them have collapsed due to natural wear and tear as well as negligence.

The Stupa at Nangchen is one of these 19 archaic and precious structures for followers of The Buddha, a press release from the Drukpa sect said.

The sect has a 1,000 monasteries across the Himalayas, with its home in Ladakh, where the lineage has 267 monastic centres.

Gyalwang Drukpa, spiritual head of Drukpa Lineage, had initiated restoration during his visit to Nangchen in 2007.

"It is being inaugurated with elaborate traditional ceremonies that befit the occasion. Prominent guests from across the world are coming to witness the re-initiation of this Stupa," the press release said.

Having fulfilled the wish of Trulshik Adeu Rinponche in restoring Ashoka Stupa in Nangchen in China, the Drukpa community is observing a celebratory meeting at the venue September 12 to 16, it added.