Tibetan Monastery
 At
first sight, the Tibetan Monastery which is a
little ahead of the Majnu Ka Tila area in old Delhi
hits you with a calm that Buddhism advocates. The monastery
is located near the famous Inter State Bus Terminal
(ISBT) at old Delhi. This place was inaugurated by Pt.
Jawaharlal Nehru on 24th February 1963. After a
major renovation it was reopened again on 3rd September
1990 by HM Kushok Baskula Riupoche.
The monastery with its maroon-orange colours and
multi-coloured flags, is a fascinating place to be
in. The tall statue of Buddha is surrounded
by invisible space. Waiting as if, for something to
impregnate it. Not a scary or vacuous place, but a
platform of freedom. When you sound the gong or go
round the wheel that awaits you outside, you are reminded
of the 'response ability' that the Buddha's
teaching talked of.
Here there is no set or expected ways of worship.
There are no offerings of fruit or incense sticks,
there are no pre judged ways of bowing down. But when
you look at the Buddha, you cannot miss the Noble
Truth that sits so becomingly on his peaceful
face. If there is some Buddhist chanting going on,
when you explore, it will add to your thoughts. The
Buddha statue was commissioned on the initiative of
the Ladkah Buddhist Association. This place
has teachings of the Great Dalai Lama. For
those looking for an inward journey into one's soul,
through outward destination, this place is a spiritual
ponder point in Delhi where there is nothing to stop
you. But for those more inclined towards the materialistic,
there is shopping at the Monastery market. This market
is famous for its clothes, shoes, accessories, and
junk jewellery among college goers.
 A
narrow lane under the ISBT flyover is a fashion lover's
haven, popular with trendy youngsters. If you wish
to make a fashion statement on a budget then head
for this place. The market basically houses shops
of the Tibetan refugees, who sell quality stuff at
very reasonable prices. The spirit to bargain is a
must here - start at 60% of the quoted value and you'll
get it for 80% of the same. The most famous being
the delightful and delectable authentic momo's made
by the Tibetans which are a must eat. This is called
the Monastery market as the monastery is right behind
this market. Many Buddhist monks, devotees, shoppers
and tourists throng this place.
Text and Pics by Jyoti Narang.
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