International Festival of Buddhist Heritage of Ladakh 2013
To,
His Eminence Master Maitreya Buddha,
President of World Buddhist Association (WBA)
Subject: Invitation to the International Festival of Buddhist Heritage of Ladakh 2013
In continuation of MIMC’s successful ethico-spiritual programs of International Yoga & Meditation Festival of 2011 and the International Festival of Buddhist Heritage of Ladakh 2012 as part of Ladakh Festival, which was organized in collaboration with the Nava Nalanda Maha Vihara, a deemed University based in Nalanda, Bihar and Ministry Tourism, Govt. of Jammu and Kashmir which was the first ever International Festival of Buddhist Heritage of Ladakh in Leh-Ladakh in September, 2012. The Festival was inaugurated by the Honourable Governor of Bihar, His Excellency Shri Devanand Konwar wherein a galaxy of eminent delegates from Germany, Holland, Hong Kong, India, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Nepal, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Taiwan, USA and Thailand had participated with much fervour and enthusiasm.
To commemorate this festival as an annual feature, MIMC in collaboration with Nav NalandaMaha Vihara has decided to organize the 2nd International Festival of Buddhist Heritage of Ladakh from 16th to 18th September 2013 as was unanimously resolved by the delegates in the 2012 festival. The festival will be one of its kind which will promote Ladakh’s rich ethnic and diverse heritage. Being the land of tranquility, an oasis of peace, harmony and cradle of Buddhism with nature’s blessings, the event has the potential to become a prestigious feature of international stature in the cultural calendar of the region as well as to promote Ladakh as a distinct tourist, cultural and spiritual destination of the globe.
As you are well aware that Ladakh, as a land of Dhamma and custodian of Buddhist heritage, has been promoting cultural exchange with other nations that shared Buddhist heritage in both economic as well as cultural prospective since time immemorial by promoting spiritual tourism through the message of peace, harmony and compassion. In the spirit of your efforts, we wish to share and be a partner in presenting our rich repository of knowledge and traditions to promote an international understanding of India in general and Ladakh in particular.
The main objective of this festival is also to foster a cohesive cultural relationship and understanding amongst Buddhist countries by providing a congenial stage for a wide spectrum of interaction and cooperation and also to focus on strengthening the inner quality of humanity and thereby bringing peace on the planet. In the academic sessions, we wil also recaptulate on the resolution unanimously adopted by the delegates in the last year’s festival which are the following listed below:
- To emphasize upon the conservation and preservation of the Buddhist heritage of Ladakh;
- To undertake efforts to explore, preserve and promote the archeological and cultural Buddhist sites in Ladakh;
- To promote and revive Ladakh as a significant destination for Buddhist pilgrimage as was done in ancient times;
- To document and promote the tribal Buddhist communities of Ladakh in relation to education, culture, health, and spirituality;
- To conserve and promote the Bodhi language as it contains the words of the Buddha;
- To include Bodhi language in the 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution;
- To enlarge the scope of regional harmony and global understanding through spiritual integration; and
- To keep the identity of the festival in making it an annual event.
As resolved during the validating ceremony of the first ever International Festival of Buddhist Heritage of Ladakh 2012, we are organizing this year the 2nd commemoration of the International Festival of Buddhist Heritage of Ladakh focusing mainly on the Buddha’s Teachings, Meditation and Yoga, along with Buddhist Film Festival and Buddhist Cultural Heritage Tour. I take immense pleasure to extend our humble invitation to request your honour to grace the occasion. Your presence endowed with rich wisdom and vast experience certainly will transform the International festival into a meaningful and holistic event.
A letter of acceptance will be highly appreciated.
A tentative program schedule is attached herewith for your kind perusal.
With best regards,
Bhikkhu Sanghasena
Founder President
Mahabodhi International Meditation Centre
Maitriyana Buddhist Community 