India-linked Buddha relics to be enshrined in 108 chortens in Bhutan
The simultaneous raising of these stupas will mark the spiritual foundation of Gelephu Mindfulness City, envisioned as a spirituality-driven global economic hub; this is a test of national character, says King Jigme Wangchuk
Buddhist relics from India will be enshrined in 108 chortens, or stupas of enlightenment, that are to be built simultaneously along a 12 km stretch of the Mau Chhu River in Bhutan's Gelephu town on November 1, 2026. The event will mark the spiritual foundation of the Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC), which Bhutan's King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk envisions as a global spirituality-driven economic hub.
The relics were donated by Buddhists in Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Bhutan, with most of them found to be sourced from India. The Central Monastic Body of Bhutan, responsible for Bhutan's Drukpa Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism, confirmed this. The relics comprise thangkas, statues, precious stones, mantra scrolls, and Buddha relics, all representing the Buddha's enlightened body, speech, and mind.
The chortens commemorate the Buddha's enlightenment and symbolize the triumph of wisdom over ignorance, making each chorten equivalent to a living Buddha once consecrated. The 108 chortens will be erected 108 meters apart along the riverbank, each standing 15 meters tall, creating a spiritual alignment with astronomical and Buddhist traditions.
This monumental undertaking, dubbed Project 108, involves 40,000 trained volunteers and is seen as a test of national character and a sacred gesture of peace amidst global conflicts. The date of November 1 is significant as it is Lord Buddha's Descending Day, Mother's Day, and the 18th coronation anniversary of Bhutan's King Wangchuk.
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