ID :
54287
Tue, 04/07/2009 - 16:12
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/54287
The shortlink copeid
Potala Palace preserves memories but shuns 14th Dalai Lama
Achinta Borah
Lhasa, Apr 7 (PTI) The majestic Potala Palace, the
erstwhile seat of the Dalai Lamas, boasts of every memorabilia
of the Tibetan spiritual leadership except those associated
with the 14th Dalai Lama, who lives in exile in India.
The centuries-old monument, now a world heritage, has
the prayer hall where the 14th Dalai Lama used to pray before
he fled the city in 1959. The picture of his predecessor the
13th Dalai Lama and the 10th Panchen Lama, adorn the prayer
hall, but none among the 77 monks who live in the 12th
storeyed building talk about the current Dalai Lama.
"Nobody thinks about him," Director of Potala Palace
Chamla Kalsang claimed when asked whether the Tibetans miss
the Dalai Lama, who lives in Dharamsala heading the Tibetan
government in exile.
The room, where the Dalai Lama used to study, the bed
room and the place where he used to meet his followers are
being kept in proper shape but nobody now uses them.
"We have to take good care of Potala Palace as this is
our culture and history besides being a world heritage site.
It has nothing to do with the Dalai Lama or his staying here
or in somewhere else," Kalsang asserted.
The chapel, where the Dalai Lama use to pay homage to
the protector deities, the 'Chimey Namgyal' where he had spent
most of his time during his stay here and the 'Jamkang' (the
maitreya Buddhist chapel) are also being kept well with
traditional lamp being light everyday.
The Chinese government has sanctioned about USD 29.41
million so far for the renovation of the Potala Palace and
preservation of the culture and heritage related to it.
Besides, a large number of domestic and foreign
tourists regularly visit the Potala Palace which has become a
centre of attraction, mainly due to its long association with
the Dalai Lama and Tibetan Buddhism.
"The Tibetans consider it as the most sacred place on
the earth," Shirab Pingtsok, an officer of the Information
Department of the Tibet Autonomus Region administration, said.
The Potala Palace measures 400 metres east-west and
350 metres north-south with thick sloping stone walls.
Thirteen stories of buildings – containing over 1,000 rooms,
10,000 shrines and about 200,000 statues – soar 117 metres on
top of Marpo Ri, the "Red Hill", rising more than 300 metres
in total above the valley floor.
Lozang Gyatso, the 5th Dalai Lama, started the
construction of the Potala Palace in 1645 after one of his
spiritual advisers, Konchog Chophel, pointed out that the site
was ideal as a seat of government, situated as it is between
Drepung and Sera monasteries and the old city of Lhasa.
The Potala Palace was inscribed to the UNESCO World
Heritage List in 1994.
The number of visitors to the palace was restricted to
1,600 a day, with opening hours reduced to six hours daily to
avoid over-crowding from 1 May 2003.
Lhasa, Apr 7 (PTI) The majestic Potala Palace, the
erstwhile seat of the Dalai Lamas, boasts of every memorabilia
of the Tibetan spiritual leadership except those associated
with the 14th Dalai Lama, who lives in exile in India.
The centuries-old monument, now a world heritage, has
the prayer hall where the 14th Dalai Lama used to pray before
he fled the city in 1959. The picture of his predecessor the
13th Dalai Lama and the 10th Panchen Lama, adorn the prayer
hall, but none among the 77 monks who live in the 12th
storeyed building talk about the current Dalai Lama.
"Nobody thinks about him," Director of Potala Palace
Chamla Kalsang claimed when asked whether the Tibetans miss
the Dalai Lama, who lives in Dharamsala heading the Tibetan
government in exile.
The room, where the Dalai Lama used to study, the bed
room and the place where he used to meet his followers are
being kept in proper shape but nobody now uses them.
"We have to take good care of Potala Palace as this is
our culture and history besides being a world heritage site.
It has nothing to do with the Dalai Lama or his staying here
or in somewhere else," Kalsang asserted.
The chapel, where the Dalai Lama use to pay homage to
the protector deities, the 'Chimey Namgyal' where he had spent
most of his time during his stay here and the 'Jamkang' (the
maitreya Buddhist chapel) are also being kept well with
traditional lamp being light everyday.
The Chinese government has sanctioned about USD 29.41
million so far for the renovation of the Potala Palace and
preservation of the culture and heritage related to it.
Besides, a large number of domestic and foreign
tourists regularly visit the Potala Palace which has become a
centre of attraction, mainly due to its long association with
the Dalai Lama and Tibetan Buddhism.
"The Tibetans consider it as the most sacred place on
the earth," Shirab Pingtsok, an officer of the Information
Department of the Tibet Autonomus Region administration, said.
The Potala Palace measures 400 metres east-west and
350 metres north-south with thick sloping stone walls.
Thirteen stories of buildings – containing over 1,000 rooms,
10,000 shrines and about 200,000 statues – soar 117 metres on
top of Marpo Ri, the "Red Hill", rising more than 300 metres
in total above the valley floor.
Lozang Gyatso, the 5th Dalai Lama, started the
construction of the Potala Palace in 1645 after one of his
spiritual advisers, Konchog Chophel, pointed out that the site
was ideal as a seat of government, situated as it is between
Drepung and Sera monasteries and the old city of Lhasa.
The Potala Palace was inscribed to the UNESCO World
Heritage List in 1994.
The number of visitors to the palace was restricted to
1,600 a day, with opening hours reduced to six hours daily to
avoid over-crowding from 1 May 2003.