ICHCAP

From 4 to 19 November 2025, the Global Peace Prayer Festival took place in Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan. Held at Changlimithang Stadium—located at an altitude of around 7,500 feet—the event brought together leaders from various Buddhist traditions, including Vajrayana, Mahayana and Theravada, to pray for world peace, compassion and harmony.

The festival featured a seven-day collective prayer session, along with a series of Buddhist rituals such as Jabshi Gyap and Jabzhi Dhoechog, traditional practices intended to dispel negativity and invoke peace. Additional ceremonies were also held at Kuenselphodrang, known as Buddha Point in Thimphu. Additional programmes included public blessings, recitations of the Padmasambhava mantra, and a large ordination ceremony for more than 250 nuns, creating a rich and layered expression of Buddhist ritual tradition.

This international spiritual festival is regarded as a living expression of Buddhist cultural heritage, where ritual, art and philosophy converge. The Constitution of Bhutan designates Vajrayana Buddhism as the nation’s spiritual heritage, grounded in the core values of compassion, non-violence and harmony with nature. These principles were reflected throughout the festival, conveying Bhutan’s message of peace to the world.

Venerable Choten remarked, “We come from different Buddhist traditions, yet we share a common aspiration. This festival is a space where, beyond our individual backgrounds, we can all become universal peacemakers.”

Reference : https://lrl.kr/WWV3