The Prime Minister Jigmi Y. Thinley met with the Chief Minister of Orissa, Naveen Patnaik, yesterday. Lyonchhoen is in Orissa to attend Mahabodhi Society’s Annual General Assembly. He also met with the Governor of Orissa, the Mayor of Bhubaneswar and other government representatives.
Lyonchhoen said the delegation has come to India not only to attend the annual Mahabodhi meeting but to nurture and deepen special bond Bhutan and India share. The Prime Minister also spoke to the people of Orissa on the Gross National Happiness.
As President of the Mahabodhi society, Lyonchhoen will inaugurate of the Temple of Gautama Buddha and Guru Padmasambhava in the presence of Dibya Singha Deba, Gajapati Maharaja of Odisha. The Gajapati Maharaja is a revered figure in Odhisha.
This is the last year of Lyonchhoen’s tenure as the President of the Mahabodhi Society. Mahabodhi society is a South Asian Buddhist Society which was founded in 1891 and has about 75 members, from various countries.
Lyonchhoen also attended a book launch. The book titled Chilika; the celestial lake, is authored by Abasar Beuria, the former Indian Ambassador.