Tsewang Rigzin
The valedictory function of
20-day training cum workshop on Stupa building & Conservation organized by
Himalayan Cultural Heritage Foundation (HCHF) and supported by Ministry of
Tourism & Culture Govt. of Jammu and Kashmir was celebrated on Wednesday at
Chamday Monastery and Chief Executive Councilor, LAHDC, Leh Rigzin Spalbar was
the chief guest on the occasion. In the workshop 15 masons from different
villages were trained in Chorten building by Gyen Paldan Sonam of Lehdo and
Tsering Tundup Tsamskanpa of Choglamsar, two leading and perhaps the only
Chorten architects in the district and was of great significance in
preservation and promotion of cultural heritage. During the workshop, the group
of trainee masons renovated a stupa of Changchup Chorten near Chemdey
monastery.
On
the success and satisfactory achievement of the workshop, Spalbar congratulated
the organizer and especially Dr. Sonam Wangchok, Secretary HCHF for his
visionary initiative and selfless contribution towards the progress of the
society and the region. CEC stressed on conserving and preserving old,
ancestral chortens build with incredible faith and blessings rather than going
for building new ones as they speaks of our cultural identity and are heritage
not only for us but for the world and generations to come. In this aspect CEC
urged govt., NGOs, LBA, Gonpa Association and people’s representatives at
different levels to work jointly in preserving the important historical
heritage sites and further asserted, “The ancient chortens have been neglected
by the Ladakhis despite realizing their historical, cultural, emotional and
religious values but tourism once again brought in light the significance of the
age old chortens and the need to preserve them through conservation. This
workshop is the foundation step and in coming times we need to undertake more
of such works by initiating movements and generating awareness among the common
people.”
CEC
in his speech also made a request to have library in every govt. and private
schools and to have books on chortens varying in levels of difficulty and
translated in English and Hindi languages, so as to educate the coming
generations about the importance of chortens and to generate interest in our
heritage. The President HCHF Prof Gyshe Konchok Wangdus, Secretary HCHF Dr.
Sonam Wangchuk also spoke on the occasion highlighting the activities and
achievements of HCHF and others who delivered speeches were Councilor Sakti
Gyal Wangyal, AD Tourism Sonam, Tsering Tundup Tsamskanpa of Choglamsar and
trainee Gyen Nawang Yarphel. Others present on the occasion were scholar
Thupstan Paldan, Councilor Upper Leh Gyen Nyantak and monks and people of Chemdey village.
Scholars and experts express concerns over the use
of all kinds of materials while building different stupas today because the
centuries old monuments, which are still in good shape and attract thousands of
visitors, are made solely with the use of local materials. Yet they have
survived for centuries despite being in one of world’s most inhospitable
atmosphere with occasional heavy rain falls and snowfalls. The training
workshop on Chorten building and conservation is a part of several successful
and important activities taken up by HCHF in recent years. In today’s era of
modernization and development, different historical monuments are being damaged
while executing construction of roads and buildings and many historical
monuments are at the verge of their extinction. Keeping this urgency in mind
J&K Minister for Tourism & Culture Nawang Rigzin Jora had asked HCHF to
come up with a proposal for training masons and to bring awareness about
preservation of historical monuments which are the signs of a vibrant culture
that has thrived in Ladakh for centuries despite harsh climatic conditions.
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