Ravangla: As part of the Year-long Celebration of “Year of Compassion”, and in observance of the sacred occasion of Chökhor Düchen, the Kunphenling Tibetan Settlement Office, in collaboration with the Regional Ghoton Committee, organised a public awareness talk on 28 July 2025. The program centred around two key themes: the Four Noble Commitments of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and the significance of Chökhor Düchen, which commemorates the Buddha’s first teaching after attaining enlightenment.

The event commenced at 9:00 AM with the arrival of community members, followed by the arrival of the guest speaker, Khenpo Karma Nyima from Densa Palchen Choeling Monastery (Ralang Gonpa), who served as the resource person for the day.

Settlement Officer Kalsang Tseten delivered the opening remarks, highlighting the objectives of the program and its relevance to the ongoing Ghoton “Year of Compassion” initiative. He reaffirmed the message of His Holiness the Dalai Lama that “the best birthday gift for me is to be kind-hearted and a good human being,” emphasising the importance of promoting compassion and moral values in everyday life.

Khenpo Karma Nyima la delivered a comprehensive and thought-provoking talk on the life-long commitments of His Holiness and the spiritual significance of Chökhor Düchen. The talk was followed by a 30-minute interactive Q&A session, where participants had the opportunity to seek clarification and deepen their understanding.

The event concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Speaker Yangdrup of the Local Tibetan Assembly, who expressed deep appreciation to the guest speaker, organisers, and all attendees.

With the participation of over 150 community members, the program was a meaningful and successful initiative under this year’s Ghoton Celebration, reinforcing the values of compassion, unity, and cultural consciousness.

-Report filed by TSO, Ravangla