The government offices, schools and institutions remained closed today to observe the first sermon of Lord Buddha or the Drup Tshezhi.
His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo, their Majesties the Queen Mothers and their Royal Highness, the Princes and Princess, attended the Namgay Tongchoed prayers at the Kuenra of the Tashichhodzong, this morning. The prayers were performed by the monks from the Central Monastic Body led by His Holiness the Je Khenpo.
Following the prayers, led by His Holiness the Je Khenpo, the members of the royal family then circumambulated the Namgaymi Kilkhor.
The tooth relic of Sangay Yoedsung and other sacred relics were also put up for public veneration at the courtyard of the Tashichhodzong. Thousands of devotees received blessings from the relics.
The fourth day of the sixth month is considered as one of the most auspicious days in the Bhutanese calendar. After achieving enlightenment, the Buddha gave his first sermon at the deer park in Sarnath, near modern day Varanasi, in India. It was on this day that the Lord Buddha gave his first teaching on the four noble truths to his five disciples.
People also visited various sacred places to offer prayers. The good deeds or virtue is believed to be multiplied 1,000 times more on this day.
