Dharamshala: Beginning last Friday 8 May, the monks of Nechung Drayaling Monastery as part of the initiative of the Department of Religion and Culture, CTA have started a weeklong prayer service dedicated for the Tibetans who died due to the Wuhan-originated COVID-19 pandemic, those who continue to suffer and their families who are at high risk of contracting the disease.

Through this initiative, the Department of Religion and Culture hopes to provide strength and resolution for the sick and the emotionally distressed so that they may overcome the disease. And to support the families of the deceased in observing unhindered prayer rituals according to the Tibetan Buddhist tradition.

As a whole, the prayer is dedicated to everyone who’s suffering physically or mentally due to the pandemic and for the speedy resolution to the global crisis.

Speaking on the first day of the prayer service, Additional Secretary of the Dept, Mr Dhondul Dorjee said all the Tibetan monastic and religious centres under the purview of the department will also take part in the prayer initiative.

“Tibetan Buddhist monastic and religious centres that were previously instructed by the Dept. to temporarily suspend religious gathering to comply with the local lockdown guidelines have been advised to observe prayer ceremonies on daily basis or once in three days or at least once in a week in compliance with the local social distancing and lockdown guidelines,” he said.

As the full expenditure of the prayer services is being borne by the CTA, he clarified that outside donations would not be accepted.

The Add Secretary thanked the Nechung Dorje Drayang Ling Monastery for facilitating the weeklong prayer session.

Those who wish to send prayer requests may contact the department over email on [email protected] or on WhatsApp at 9805472150.

The weeklong prayer sessions are being broadcast live on Tibet TV from 7 pm onwards.