November 16: His Majesty the King conferred the Order of the Druk Gyalpo (1st class) to His Holiness Je Thrizur Tenzin Dendup and Her Majesty the Royal Grandmother Ashi Kesang Choeden Wangchuck yesterday. The ceremony took place at the throne room in the Tashichhodzong.
At the throne room in the Tashichhodzong, the momentous ceremony began with a Zhugdrel Phuensum Tshogpa followed by the marchang ceremony. His Majesty then conferred the order of the Druk Gyalpo (1st class) to His Holiness Je Thrizur Tenzin Dendup and Her Majesty the Royal Grandmother Ashi Kesang Choeden Wangchuck at the Tashichhodzong. His Majesty also offered Tashi Khadhar to His Holiness and Her Majesty the Royal Grandmother.
The Order of the Druk Gyalpo (1st Class) is the nation’s highest honour bestowed upon an individual who has devoted a lifetime of service to the Tsa-wa-sum. His Holiness and Her Majesty are the first recipients of this honour. Present at the ceremony were the fourth Druk Gyalpo, Their Majesties the Queenmothers, Their Royal Highnesses the Princes and Princesses and members of the Royal Family.
At the age of 84, His Holiness Je Tenzin Dendup is one of the most learned and prominent Drukpa Kayju Buddhist Masters of our time. Under the command of the Fourth Druk Gyalpo His Holiness brought about major reforms in the Zhung Dratshang thereby further strengthening and consolidating the institution and instituting the first Buddhist Shedra or Higher Learning Colleges at Tango and Cheri in Thimphu.
In 1967, His Holiness became the first Lopen or master of the then newly instituted Dubdey at Tango. He became the Dorji Lopen in 1985 and a year later, His Holiness became the 68th Je Khenpo.
In 1990, His Holiness relinquished the title of Je Khenpo, bringing an end to an illustrious career that spanned over five decades. However, His Holiness continues to be the patron of Tango and Cheri Buddhist Shedra, and wields immense influence in the world’s Buddhist and larger spiritual community.
Her Majesty the Royal Grandmother Ashi Kesang Choeden Wangchuck was born in 1930 in Kalimpong to Raja Sonam Tobgye Dorji and Mayum Choying Wongmo Dorji. She pursued her early education in St Joseph’s Convent in Kalimpong and later studied at House of Citizenship in England.
She became Queen to His Majesty the Third Druk Gyalpo Jigme Dorji Wangchuck in 1951 at Paro and on the November 11, 1955, His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo Jigme Singye Wangchuck was born.
Her Majesty the Royal Grandmother has been one of the most important patrons of the living heritage and Buddha Dharma of Bhutan. Her Majesty has been responsible for the protection and restoration of many important national treasures, the construction of new religious monuments and the support of many religious institutions and practices throughout the kingdom.
Her Majesty has also been a major patron of annual prayers and pujas conducted for the well-being and security of the King, Country and People. Her Majesty’s keen interest in preserving the unique art, architecture and cultural heritage of Bhutan and promoting research and scholarship on the kingdom are other important contributions. Her Majesty has lived a lifetime of service to three generations of Kings and their people.
His Majesty the fourth Druk Gyalpo, their Majesties the Queenmothers, their Royal Highnesses the Princes and Princesses and the members of the Royal Family offered Tashi Khadhar to His Holiness the Je Thrizur and Her Majesty the Royal Grandmother.
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