Thimphu: Bhutan, the nation that measures well-being through Gross National Happiness, is preparing to welcome one of its most profound spiritual events.
From November 4, the Himalayan kingdom will host the Global Peace Prayer Festival, a 16-day gathering that brings together eminent Buddhist masters from Bhutan and abroad for a wide-ranging program dedicated to harmony and healing.
Senior leaders from multiple Buddhist traditions will take part, including the Je Khenpo, Bhutan’s highest monastic authority, the 12th Kenting Tai Situpa, the 9th Gyalwang Drukpa, and other respected teachers.
The festival will unfold across Changlimithang Stadium and sacred sites in Thimphu, drawing crowds in person and an even larger global audience online. At a time when much of the world is gripped by conflict and digital anger, Bhutan intends this gathering to serve as a call for peace rooted in ancient wisdom.
The opening week will feature the Jabzhi Doechog, a complex thread-cross ritual performed by the Central Monastic Body. Rarely seen at this scale, the ceremony aims to dissolve negative energies and cleanse collective karma.
Alongside the ritual, monks will lead non-sectarian prayers in Dzongkha and classical Dharma language, supported by live translations in English and Tibetan. It is designed to make the spiritual experience accessible to followers across continents.
On November 10, thousands are expected to receive public blessings from senior lamas, followed the next day by a mass recitation of the revered Bazaguru mantra. Lay participants are invited to chant as one, creating a shared offering for peace and protection.
From November 12 to 14, the Je Khenpo will bestow the Kalachakra initiation. Often described as a spiritual map of the universe and the human body, this rare tantric empowerment is believed to help avert global and personal turmoil. It stands as the centrepiece of the festival and a moment of deep significance for devotees.
The closing days carry historic weight. More than 250 nuns from Bhutan and other countries will receive full Bhikkhuni ordination at the Bhutan Nuns Foundation– only the second time the ceremony has taken place in the kingdom for Mahayana Buddhist nuns. The milestone marks continued progress in advancing monastic equality and will be viewed across the Buddhist world as a landmark step.
Scholarly discussions on Kalachakra cosmology and an exhibition of rare mandala paintings will run alongside public rituals, enriching the cultural experience. Organisers expect thousands to attend, with millions joining virtually.
The festival symbol of two Bodhi leaves in gold and white reflects awakening, balance, compassion, and unity between East and West. For Bhutan, it is both a celebration of cultural identity and a gift of peace to the world.
