His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen yesterday visited the Durga Mandhir, located near the Thai Pavilion in Thimphu. The royal couple offered prayers and exchanged garlands as a part of a Hindu marriage.
His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen were greeted by the members of the Hindu Samudaya of Bhutan, its chairman Dasho Meg Raj Gurung and the members. The royal couple then entered the temple in a procession with Naumati Baja which is performed during Hindu marriage. A long queue of excited people greeted the royal couple outside the temple.
Once inside the temple, His Majesty and Her Majesty the Queen lit butter lamps and offered prayers. The royal couple then exchanged flower garlands known as Soyambar mala as part of the Hindu marriage ceremony.
The Hindu Samudaya of Bhutan offered a Ramayana book and the statue of Vishnu and Laxmi to His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen. Hindus believe kings and queens to be the incarnations of Vishnu and Laxmi.
In return, His Majesty donated money for the construction of the new Hindu temple below Kuenselphodrang and for the development of the Hindu Samudaya of Bhutan.
His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen then met with the people who had gathered at the temple to meet them.
The Chairman of the Hindu Samudaya in Bhutan said the royal visit to the temple was of great significance for the Hindu Samudaya of Bhutan and the temple.
“We are deeply touched by His Majesty’s visit to the temple on the happy occasion of royal wedding”
The pundits and hundreds of people who gathered at the temple also offered Tashi Khadhar to the royal couple.
