The funeral ceremony of former Dorji Lopen Yonten Gyeltshen was held today at Nalendra in Punakha. His Majesty The King, Her Majesty The Gyaltsuen, His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo, and members of the Royal Family attended the ceremony presided over by His Holiness the Je Khenpo. Ministers, parliamentarians, district and senior government officials, armed force personnel, and around four hundred devotees came to pay their respects.
The Dorji Lopen of the Central Monastic Body, former Yonten Lopen Truelku Thinley, Lam Neten from across the country, Lam and Khenpo from nearby monastic centres, along with around five hundred monks and nuns from Talo Shedra, Nalendra Shedra, Nobgang Monastic School and Sangchhen Dorji Lhundrup Thorim Shedra performed the rituals.
According to the Central Monastic Body, the former Dorji Lopen Yonten Gyeltshen was born in 1935 at Bulgang above Nobgang in Punakha’s Talo Gewog. He joined the monk body at the age of eight.
After studying and serving many years in the monastic body, he was appointed as the Dorji Lopen of the Central Monastic Body in 1999. He served in the position for three years.
Former Dorji Lopen Yonten Gyeltshen died on the 2nd of this month at his meditation residence in Nalendra at the age of 91.
Changa Dorji, Punakha
Edited by Phub Gyem
