Karmapa Lama visits Arunachal's Tawang, receives overwhelming response

The Karmapa Lama, the head of the 900-year-old Karma Kagyu lineage and guide to millions of Buddhists around the world, was given a rousing welcome on his arrival in Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh.

A monk here said Karmapa, who is visiting here on the request of Chief Minister Pema Khandu interacted with local residents and gave them sermons on life.

"The Karmapa came here around 1,110 years ago and special prayers were held then. At that point of time, he built around 10-15 gonpas. The 10th Karmapa could not visit here. The Monpa people kept saying that there is Karmapa's name in the gonpas and they wanted to listen to his preachings and he is visiting here post the request made by the locals to the Chief Minister and Kiren Rijiju (MoS Home)," he said.

"Karmapa held prayers here and preached the people, besides interacting with intellectuals, teachers and scholars at the Kala Wangpo Hall," he added.

Pema Yangchin, a resident, said she had come here to seek the Karmapa's blessings.

"We have all gathered here to see the Karmapa, who is the third highest Rimpoche in Buddhism here. We are here to seek his blessings," she added.

Tsering Drema, a student, also expressed her delight to see the Karmapa and said that she had been waiting for this day for long.

"We are very happy. We have for long wanted to see him and finally we got to see him. We know that he is a very big Rimpoche," she said.

The Karmapa after his two-day visit to Tawang will be visiting the Dirang Valley in West Kameng District and then leave for Bomdila.