Assam: Bhutan King begins three-day visit with prayer at Kamakhya Temple

STAFF REPORTER/ANI

GUWAHATI: Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuk began his three-day visit to Assam by first praying at the Kamakhya Temple on Friday morning. On his arrival, CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, education minister Ranoj Pegu and GAD minister Ranjeet Dass welcomed the Bhutan king at the airport.

CM Sarma welcomed the king with the traditional Assamese ‘Gamosa’ (scarf). The royal visitor also greeted the chief minister.

The Bhutan king had a courtesy meeting with the Assam CM in the city. In the evening he attended a show at the Assam Staff Administrative College campus, where the culture and traditions of Assam were showcased.

On Saturday, the king will proceed to Kaziranga National Park, where he will stay the night. The next day, he is scheduled to depart for New Delhi from the airport at Jorhat.

On the occasion of the Bhutan king’s visit to the state, CM Sarma stated, “On behalf of the people of Assam, I am elated to welcome His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, the King of Bhutan. Under the guidance of our Hon’ble Prime Minister, we look forward to the strengthening of the special relationship between our two countries.”

The king, draped with a traditional Buddhist yellow robe, prayed at the ‘garbhagriha’ (sanctum sanctorum) and performed the ‘parikrama’ (circumambulation) of the temple, besides lighting earthen lamps in obeisance to the Goddess,

The authorities presented a replica of the Kamakhya Temple to the royal visitor.

The king of the neighbouring Himalayan country is accompanied by senior officials of the royal government of Bhutan.

In a post on X, Ministry of External Affairs official spokesperson Arindam Bagchi stated, “A warm welcome to His Majesty the King of Bhutan, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck on his first official visit to Assam. Welcomed by CM @himantabiswa at the Guwahati airport.”

During his visit, the Bhutan King will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Ministry of External Affairs said in an official statement. Furthermore, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and senior officials of the Indian government will also call on the Bhutan King.

The Bhutanese King is also slated to travel to Maharashtra.

The Ministry of External Affairs in a statement said, “India and Bhutan enjoy unique ties of friendship and cooperation, which are characterized by understanding and mutual trust. The visit would provide an opportunity to both the sides to review the entire gamut of bilateral cooperation and to further advance the exemplary bilateral partnership, across diverse sectors.”

Earlier, this April the Bhutanese king had visited India and met with President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

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