Speaker Pema Jungney addressing the golden jubilee of Sakya Tibetan Society, Puruwala

Speaker of Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, Pema Jungney attended the golden jubilee celebration of Sakya Tibetan Society, Puruwala on 21 February 2019. He made ritual offerings at the long life offering ceremony to the Kyabje Sakya Gongma Rinpoche at Thupten Namgyal ling Monastery, Puruwala.

Speaker Pema Jungney receiving traditional scarf from Sakya Gongma Rinpoche

In the presence of Sakya Trichen, the celebration was attended by Sakya Trizin, Sakya’s Dakmos, chief guest Shri Sukh Ram Chaudhary, Member of State legislative (Himachal Vidan Sabha), special guest Speaker Pema Jungney, Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile and Kalon Karma Yeshi, Central Tibetan Administration, other guest includes Parliamentarian Khenpo Kada Ngedup Sonam, Dr. Madan Lal Khurana(President) and Gita Ram Thakur(secretary) of Indo Tibetan Friendship Society, Khenpos and Tulkus, former and present settlement officers, other dignitaries, reporters and public.

Speaker with other dignitaries

Special guest, Speaker Pema Jungney addressed the golden jubilee celebration of Sakya Tibetan Society, Puruwala by paying reverence to Sakya Trichen, Sakya Trizin and other lamas. He spoke about kindness and blessing of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, the 41st Sakya Trizin Nawang Kunga Thekchen Rinpoche and hard works of older generation of Sakya society to establish the Sakya Tibetan Society, Puruwala. In 1968, a 160-acre land was bought from Mr. Dhan Singh with the generous help from European Refugee Campaign, Swiss Aid to Tibetans, Catholic Relief Services via Tibetan Industrial Rehabilitation Society, Delhi (TIRS).

Speaker with other dignitaries

Sakya Tibetan Society was established in 1969, registered at Shimla, Himachal Pradesh. Kyabchok Gongma Trichen Rinpoche visited Sakya Tibetan Society on 11 October 1969 and stayed there for three weeks. Most of the people of the society came from Manali and had faced severe hardship for one and half year. Eventually, they established houses, school, hospital, baby crèche, carpet factory etc. Initially, Society had 110 families of 450 people, residing in 160-acres of land and livelihoods of the people were farming and carpet weaving. Later people started sweater-selling business.

Speaker spoke about changes of Sakya Tibetan Society in the past 50 years and gave credit to the older generations for their hard work and persistence. After the establishment of Sakya Tibetan Society, Buddhism and specially Sakya tradition has flourished, and it has also produced many capable people who work in Central Tibetan Administration and other NGOs.

He expressed gratitude to all the people involved in the establishment of Sakya Tibetan Society on behalf of Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile. Finally, he prayed for long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Kyabjey Sakya Gongma Rinpoche and other lamas. He also prayed for quick solution of Tibet issue.

Speaker of TPiE with Sakya Trichen, Sakya Trizin and other dignitaries