NEWS: Bhutan is constructing 108 Buddhist stupas (Jangchub Chortens) along the Mau Chhu River in Gelephu to house sacred Buddha relics, mostly of Indian origin.

KEY FACTS

• Location: Gelephu, Bhutan → near Assam's Chirang district.
• Project: 108 stupas along a 12-km stretch of the Mau Chhu River.
• Purpose: To create a spiritual foundation for Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC).
• Construction: Around 40,000 trained volunteers.
• Size: Each stupa will be around 15 metres tall, placed 108 metres apart.
• Cost: Approximately $200,000 per stupa.

WHAT ARE JANGCHUB CHORTENS?

• Buddhist stupas associated with the Buddha's enlightenment.
• Contain sacred objects called Zung, representing Buddha's enlightened body, speech and mind.
• Zung may include relics, statues, Thangkas, precious stones and sacred texts.
• Once consecrated, a chorten is considered equivalent to the living Buddha.

WHY IS 108 SIGNIFICANT?

• Buddhism: 108 beads in a prayer mala + 108 volumes of the Kangyur.
• Hinduism: 108 Upanishads + 108 names of many deities.
• Yoga: 108 Sun Salutations in certain traditions.
• Symbolises spiritual completeness, purification and cosmic balance