Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs Shri Kiren Rijiju represented the Government of India at the ceremony for raising and consecration of 108 Stupas in Gelephu Mindfulness City, Bhutan, led by His Majesty The King of Bhutan on November 1, 2026. The event took place along an 11.7 kilometre stretch along the Aie (Mau) River within Gelephu Mindfulness City near the border with Assam, where thousands of volunteers erected 108 Stupas, each 15 metres tall and separated by 108 metres in a single day.
The 108 Stupas project was conceived and steered by His Majesty The King of Bhutan, aiming to showcase Gelephu Mindfulness City as a prominent center of Vajrayana Buddhism while representing Bhutanese cultural values. During the ceremony, His Majesty The King of Bhutan, Prime Minister of Bhutan, and Minister Rijiju offered prayers at Stupa No. 76, which was dedicated by the King to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his commitment and steadfast support to the Gelephu Mindfulness City project. Minister Rijiju conveyed gratitude on behalf of PM Modi for this gesture.
During his visit to Bhutan from October 31 to November 2, 2026, Minister Rijiju received an audience with His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and met with Prime Minister Dasho Tshering Tobgay. Both sides appreciated the special friendship between the nations and the healthy trend in bilateral cooperation across diverse areas including development cooperation, trade, energy, investment, connectivity, and cultural connections. Minister Rijiju reaffirmed India's support for the visionary Gelephu Mindfulness City project and its role in developing neighboring areas in India together with Bhutan.