A project that we did not anticipated but glad that we are part of the making of this 71feet Buddha

More than two years ago I saw photos of the making of the big Buddha statue in Stok. A group of us was admiring from afar. I was just following the progress made by the villagers...how they help either physically or providing transportation for the materials or even simple as cooking or providing food for the workers...A great team indeed without asking for anything in return.They toiled during the brief summer months and work indoor during the harsh winter.

A magnificent sight in the mountain overlooking the valley

Then one of our friends asked if we can donate gold or gold paint for this Buddha after seeing the crown was casked with gold bar donated by someone from Singapore. Also we ca see that the alms bowl was in place.

It all went very fast and 24k gold paints were purchased and shipped to Ladakh and pure gold foils were purchased from China and hand carried to project sites and so were the cold gold purchased from Nepal all arrived in time for the completion of the painting within 3 months last year.

                                       

This May 10 of us were lucky to be able to travel to Ladakh to look at this statue that we have been waiting to see and also offer 2 sets of vertical lotus lights and 1 set of horizontal lotus lights to the main altar.. Just two weeks before we left we were told that the giant lamp outside the Buddha statue needs refilling of oil. Within 2 days we gathered enough money for buying oil for the next 2 years and we were lucky to be able to take part in the topping up ceremony while we were there. This Buddha has been consecrated by HHDL on 8 Aug 2016. The rest of the buildings i.e. the front groud,  the library, the staying quarters as well as the car park down the hill will be on going until whatever in the blueprint is completed. Hopefully the next time we go there it will be more user friendly.