DIBONG (ASSAM), Jan 21: Deputy Chief Minister, Chowna Mein has made a request to the Bikkhu Sanghas to go beyond the monastic teaching and impart academic teaching in the monastery.
He made the appeal today while attending the Loi-Peng (Chariot) Festival which is being celebrated to pay respect to the highly revered Guru Agga Mahapandita Dhammadhaja Late Ven. Wannasara Mahathero at Dibong Singpho Village in Margherita (Assam).He was the designated president of Purbanchal Bhikkhu Sangha, Abbot of the Dibong Bouddha Vihara and the retired principal of Dibong Pali Vidhyalaya who attained nirvana on May 22 last.
He emphasized that the monastery works should not only confine to the religious teachings but it should also be made the Centre for academic teaching, learning indigenous script & languages and for providing healthcare facilities to the needy.
He also stressed on preservation and promotion of indigenous culture, mother tongue and own indigenous script saying that “if we do not protect and practice our own culture & speak our own language, then who will come and do for us”. He further said that ours is a secular country and there is freedom of religions and at the same time we must also learn to respect other’s religion and let all faith grow parallely.
Mein also paid homage to the departed monk and participated in the Chariot pulling (funeral rituals) of the enlightened Buddhist Guru Late Ven. Wannasara Mahathero. He also released a souvenir published in memory of the departed Monk.
The festival,being observed for three days from January 20- 23 also witnessed participation of numbers of Buddhist Monks from Assam and Arunachal Pradesh besides MLA Margherita, Bhaskar Sarmah and thousands of devotees.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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