Sun Nov 09 11:08:04 UTC 2025: News Article:
Bhutan Eyes Role as Global Peacemaker with Inaugural Peace Prayer Festival
THIMPHU, BHUTAN – November 9, 2025 – In a world grappling with conflict, Bhutan is stepping forward as a potential spiritual center for global peace. The Himalayan nation’s Central Monastic Body is hosting the first-ever Global Peace Prayer Festival (GPPF) in Thimphu from November 4 to 19, bringing together religious leaders, scholars, and thinkers from the Mahayana, Theravada, and Vajrayana branches of Buddhism.
According to Chorten Dorji, Secretary of the Central Monastic Body, the “overwhelming response” to the inaugural festival has spurred Bhutan to plan the GPPF as an annual event on a larger scale, potentially involving representatives from other mainstream and indigenous religions.
“His Majesty, the King of Bhutan, conceived the GPPF as a global platform for transformative spiritualism toward co-creating a future rooted in peace and happiness,” said Mr. Dorji.
The GPPF aims to bring together leaders from all branches of Buddhism including lamas and representatives from China, Singapore, Taiwan, Cambodia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, India, and the Tibetan region. The organizers have also included a space for Hindu priests and spiritual leaders from India to hold a mass recitation event.
The Central Monastic Body expressed its appreciation for the Government of India’s support, including financial assistance and the transport of Lord Buddha’s relics from New Delhi to Thimphu for public veneration.
“The cooperation we have received from India has cemented the bond between our two countries,” Mr. Dorji stated. The upcoming visit of India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, is expected to further elevate the festival’s global significance. Bhutan hopes that the annual GPPF will foster greater understanding and cooperation between faiths, ultimately contributing to lasting peace worldwide.
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