His Holiness Dalai lama consecrated Lord Buddha status in Sino Indian border state Sikkim

SILIGURI/ GANGTOK: The Great Buddhist Monk His Holiness Dalai Lama todayconsecrated 137 ft high Lord Buddha Statue in " TATHAGATA TSAL" or Buddha Park at Picturesque Rabangla in Sikkim, a place at 7900ft above MSL.

Beside the 'Pran Pratistha' ceremony for the grand statue, HH has also places many other Holi relics brought from South East Asian Monasteries in the special sanctorum hall built under the grand statue of Lord.

HH Dalai Lama has arrived Sikkim yesterday on his four days trip after which, the Monk will stay for more three days at Siliguri in the foothills of west Bengal adjoining to Sikkim.

"Do not keep a materialistic outlook. The large statue of Buddhaor Guru Padmasambhava can give us inspiration and peace of mind. But we cannot take that unless we take the teachings of Buddha's thought," said HH Dalai Lama in his speech in Tibetan language.

Present in the occasion, Sikkim CM Mr. Pawan Chamling said, "He said Sikkim is a great follower of the teaching of Buddha to maintain peace. Our state is great in honoring all the religions equally."

Sikkim has a separate religious department that patronises 720 religiousplaces and institutions including 328 monasteries, 380 Hindu temples, 75 churches, 7 mosques of Muslims and 2 Gurduaras.

However, the whole state Sikkim and North Bengal have been put under strong security net to ensure no untoward incident during the visit of Dalai Lama. "Any untoward incident now can unpleasant message to global platform as HH Dalai Lamas visit to any place remain in global level headlines," said a senior Home department official.

It may be mentioned that reportedly China placed its objection with GoI against Dalai Lama's visit to Sino Indian border state Arunachal Pradesh in 2009. Similar objection was made during his visit to another border state Sikkim in 2010 too. But this time, no similar initiative from Chinese side has been reported so far.