On February 21, the Royal Family of Bhutan, including His Majesty King Jigme Khesar, His Majesty the Fourth King Jigme Singye Wangchuck, and Her Majesty Queen Jetsun Pema, observed the consecration of the Ugyen Norlha Chorten and the groundbreaking of the Gelephu Chorten, marking significant milestones in the development of Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC) alongside the participation of over 16,000 volunteers in the fifth Zhabtog (volunteer service) round. The Ugyen Norlha Chorten, dedicated to Guru Rinpoche’s representation of prosperity, stands as the first sacred landmark completed in GMC and commemorates the birth of Her Royal Highness Gyalsem Sonam Yangden Wangchuck.
The Gelephu Chorten, modeled after the Jarung Khashor stupa, is set to reach a height of 80 meters, symbolizing the 80 years of the Buddha’s life on earth, and serves as an emblem of the aspirations behind GMC. During these ceremonies, His Majesty conveyed gratitude towards His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo for his foundational contributions to Bhutan’s present state and emphasized the national spirit of collective service central to the GMC vision.
His Majesty also unveiled an ambitious plan to construct 108 Jangchub Chortens along an 11-kilometer stretch, aiming for their completion within a single day, encouraging unity and commitment among Bhutanese. His Majesty expressed the belief in the people of Bhutan, attributing any successes to their capabilities rather than his leadership.
During the event, His Majesty awarded the Druk Thuksey Medal to Mrs. Thippaporn Ahriyavraromp and Dr. Nathawat Ahriyavraromp from MQDC, recognizing their substantial contributions to GMC. Following the ceremonies, Their Majesties and the Royal Family participated in volunteer work at GMC, focusing on environmental restoration and communal service, including clearing areas for the Gelephu Chorten and enhancing elephant habitats.
On February 22, the Royal Family inspected progress at the Gelephu International Airport before further engaging in volunteer efforts across GMC. The subsequent day saw 28 volunteer teams participate in large-scale environmental and sacred projects, including tree plantings in Central Park and site preparations near prominent GMC landmarks. They also inaugurated the installation of the Rabsel at Genyen Neykhang, which is being constructed according to His Majesty’s command and aims to function as a key sacred site within GMC.
