PESHAWAR: A special Buddhist prayer ceremony for peace in Kashmir was held by Centre for Culture and Development (C2D) in collaboration with Directorate of Archaeology and Museums at Bhamala Stupa in Khanpur.

A press release issued here on Thursday said that the event was designed to contribute to government’s efforts to highlight the Kashmir issue through cultural diplomacy.

This was for the first time that a prayer was offered at the Bhamala Stupa since the decline of Buddhism in the Gandhara region in the 7th Century AD. “This occasion is of the greatest spiritual and cultural significance in the promotion of Gandhara as a Pakistani symbol of international peace and interfaith harmony in the region,” said the press release.

It said that the event would also promote religious tourism to Gandhara as a pillar of Pakistan’s cultural diplomacy. The ceremony started with an introduction by Dr Nadeem Omar Tarar, the executive director of C2D, a research and policy institution working to create synergy between cultural capital and modern development.

The event was part of C2D’s ongoing strategy to introduce Gandhara in a responsible and dignified way for which the organisation also initiated Gandhara Research and Resource Center in Taxila.

A high ranking Korean Buddhist monk, Neug-her Sinim, offered the special prayer along with a delegation of visiting monks. Monk Sinim is a ‘scholar in residence’ with the Gandhara Research and Resource Centre, Pakistan. The ceremony was held in cooperation with members of civil society and diverse faiths from across the world including the diplomatic community.

Dr Abdul Samad, the director of archaeology and museums, highlighted the importance of Pakistan’s Gandhara heritage and acknowledged the efforts of C2D and the department of archaeology and museums.

A large number of people turned up to express solidarity with the cause. A team of scholars and experts from Hast-o-Neest from Lahore, also participated in the event.

Published in Dawn, October 18th, 2019