Prayers held for Sikkim quake victims

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Prayers held for Sikkim quake victims

Tags: Buddhist , Karmapa , Prayers , Sikkim Quake

_{Published by: Manas Sen Gupta}
^{Published on: Wed, 21 Sep 2011 at 22:23 IST}

Prayers held for Sikkim quake victims

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New Delhi: Prayers were conducted for the victims of the Sikkim earthquake by around 100 Tibetans, including monks, on Wednesday.

The group was led by His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, Trinley Thaye Dorje, at the Karmapa International Buddhist Institute.

"Aspiration prayers are the power of our consciousness and it is the combination of our thoughts and wishes. They support us both in life and for our rebirth," Dorje said.

"Aspirations also help those who have passed away to have a peaceful and smooth transition into the next life," he added.

The devotees chanted mantras in the sanctum sanctorum for the departed and the survivors, which was followed by lighting of lamps and candles and offering of flowers.

"Lighting a lamp symbolises end of darkness and moving towards of positivity, much like the survivors who have got a new lease of life," said Dorje.

Nigel Thrupten, aged 32, said that even though people like him are hundreds of kilometres away from the affected areas, their prayers have the power to soothe the victims.

"We can't do anything from here but at least we can pray for them... It will definitely comfort the affected," Thrupten said.

Sunday's 6.8 magnitude temblor, which hit large parts of eastern and northern India, Nepal and Tibet, killed over 60 people in Sikkim alone.

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