Leh: Thousands of devotees from across Ladakh gathered at Jivetsal on Saturday as the public exposition and veneration of the sacred relics of Gautama Buddha entered its eighth day, turning the venue into a major centre of spiritual devotion and prayer.
Nearly 7,000 devotees, including a large number of visitors from the Kargil region, participated in the holy occasion throughout the day to pay homage and seek blessings from the sacred relics.
The site remained crowded from morning till evening, reflecting the deep spiritual significance attached to the relics among the Buddhist community.
The day’s religious prayers and ceremonial offerings were led by monks from Disket Nubra Monastery under the supervision of the Ladakh Gonpa Association. The ongoing programme is part of a 15-day religious observance in which monks from 16 major monasteries of Ladakh are conducting prayers on different days as per a fixed schedule.
Volunteers and members of the Ladakh Buddhist Association Youth Wing remained actively engaged in managing the large gathering and providing logistical support to devotees. Special arrangements were also made for senior citizens and differently-abled visitors to facilitate their participation in the veneration ceremony.
The sacred programme is being organised by the Ladakh Buddhist Association, which has implemented a village-wise schedule for devotees from across Leh district to ensure smooth and organised participation in the religious event.
Organisers said students from various educational institutions, including SOS and TCV schools and colleges, are expected to visit the sacred relics on Sunday. Following the completion of the present phase in Leh, the relics will be taken to Zanskar on May 11 for the continuation of the veneration programme in the region.
