Measuring an impressive 42 metres tall, the gigantic Du-dhuel Namgyel Chorten currently under construction at Ura Gewog in Bumthang will become the tallest Chorten in the country once construction works are complete. With about 24 metres width, it is also set to become the largest Namgyel Chorten ever built in the country serving as a massive landmark on the East-West primary national highway.
Sitting at the edge of Ura valley, the huge monument which has been under construction since 2015 is gradually taking shape. About eighty per cent of structural works are complete. The construction began as a community initiative of the people of Ura Dozhi, a cluster of four villages in Ura in 2015 as a tribute to the 60th Birthday of His Majesty the Fourth King. Many lamas recommended the people of Ura on constructing a Chorten at the end of their village.
“The former Gyalwang Karmapa prophesied that building a stupa at the end of the valley would bring fortunes and prosperity to the people of Ura. Later on, Wangthang Rinpoche, a Tibetan lama settled in Ura also planned to construct a Chorten at the site but he died before he could even start the work. Moreover, Lam Gyelwa Nyima also foretold that a Chorten at the current location would benefit the people of Ura and in safeguarding Buddha Dharma in the country,” said Tshewang Jigme, the Site Supervisor/Architect at Ura in Bumthang.
The two-acre land on which the stupa is being built is contributed by five landowners of Ura. Construction was affected by cold weather and the COVID-19 pandemic but works are back on track since the nationwide lockdown ended. However, the manpower shortage still remains a challenge.
“As the weather condition is very harsh in Ura, it is very difficult to make big progress each year. Moreover, as all the workers are from the community, they have to work on farms most of the time. So, we are facing a bit of manpower shortage,” said Khandu Wangchuk, the Ura Gup.
“When we were working on the lower structures of the Chorten, only a couple of people were required. Now that the construction has reached the apex, a lot of people are required in carrying stones, mud and sand all the way to the top of the structure. We require about twenty stone and mud carriers for two masons to carry out masonry works atop. This is hampering the progress,” said Tshewang Jigme.
Another challenge is finding sponsors for sculpting the 100,000 Guru Dorji Drolo clay statues to be put inside the Chorten as relics. Locals say Dudjom Rinpoche prophesied the importance of installing 100,000 Guru Dorji Drolo statues in the Chorten for the benefit of all sentient beings and safeguarding Buddhism in Bhutan. Currently, local workers carry out the work but only half of the sculpting works are complete. Transporting clay for making the statues from Shingkhar is also a challenge as only tractors can ply on the road due to its poor conditions.
“Shingkhar is about 15 kilometres away from here, so it’s difficult for us to transport clay all the way to our village. We just finished sculpting about 50,000 statues of the 100,000 we are trying to make. The statue-making project alone will cost about Nu 5 M. We haven’t even gathered half the amount yet. The coordinator for the Guru Dorji Drolo statue-making project is having a difficult time collecting funds and finding donors,” said Yeshey Yangchen, from Ura in Bumthang.
A Facebook group has been created to raise funds for the project. Despite the challenges, contributions in cash and kind, as well as workforce, are seen regularly for both the Chorten construction works as well as the statue-making project.
“The entire population of Ura Gewog as well as the Bumthang Dzongkhag Administration, the civil servants and all other devoted Bhutanese across the country have supported the Chorten construction works in various ways. We hope all the supporters would continue helping us until the pinnacle is installed atop the structure,” the Ura Gup added.
His Majesty The King has granted Nu 5 M for the Chorten construction works according to Sonam Tshewang, the project coordinator.
If the works go on uninterrupted, by this time next year, all the structural works of the Chorten are expected to be complete. The Chorten will also become the only stupa in the country with 100,000 Guru Dorji Drolo statues and 200,000 clay sculptures (Tshatshas) as its main relics.
Kipchu
