Tree planted by 14th Dalai Lama near LAC in Arunachal a big hit

GUWAHATI: The holy tree at the Khenzamani border close to the LAC in Arunachal Pradesh, which is believed to be planted by the 14th Dalai Lama Gyalwa Tenzin Gyatso when he entered India leaving his country in 1959, has become the cynosure of all eyes.in the Centre-sponsored ‘Vibrant Villages Programme’.
It has doubled the excitement of locals and tourists in Arunachal which is celebrating the annual Gorzam kora festival at 13th-century Gorzam stupa in Tawang district’s Jemeithang village.
Local authorities said a site near the holy tree was the 14th Dalai Lama’s first stopover on Indian soil after pulling off a sensational escape amid Chinese aggression.
Jemeithang is the last administrative headquarters of Indian administration towards Tibet border and is one of the villages under Vibrant Village Programme.
The Indian army and the administration is facilitating the visits of pilgrims and tourists to the holy tree at Khenzamani during the ongoing fest (between March 18 and 21), which saw tourists from even neighbouring Bhutan. Pilgrims and tourists also visited the Namkha chhu war memorial and paid tributes to the martyrs of 1962 Sino India war.
“The holy tree is planted on a border pass at Khenzamani thorough which the 14 Dalami Lama entered. It has grown bigger and the devotees now observe Sakyam ritual around it and the nearby place where His Holiness, the 14th Dalai Lama, took shelter,” Deewan Mara, circle officer, Jemeithang told TOI on Monday.