Unimaginable and unexpected theft of Buddha’s statue before Dalai Lama’s much awaited visit, has left everyone shocked in Botswana!
Gaborone, July 13: The Botswana Buddhist community in Gaborone is taken aback by the unfathomable and inexplicable loss of its precious Buddha statue, which was reported stolen on the night of Sunday 9th July, at the Gaborone North-based temple.
As per the claims of Botswana Buddhist Association head Darshini De Silva, “the thieves had sneaked into the premises of the Botswana Buddhist Association and drove away with the massive statue of Buddha, that weighed over 500 kilograms.” According to certain insiders, it cannot be an easy takeaway and getaway as it would take more than eight men to lift such a huge statue, owing to its heavy weight. A complain has hence been registered to seek Police intervention since the morning after in the Gaborone North policing area and the probe and investigations still continue.
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Losing its precious gold painted statue costing worth P250,000, which was a gift from the people of Thailand in 1996, the Botswana Buddhist Association is feeling demoralised and perplexed on account of its relationship value as well.
The statue that got stolen was one of the two big Buddha statues that were placed at the Gaborone North temple.According to sources, the first one was enshrined in June 29, 1992 and it was made in Ratmalana temple in Sri Lanka and this second statue of the Buddha was brought from Thailand to the temple in Botswana on June 29 1996 by Ten Thai monks and other Thai devotees from Thailand and it was enshrined inside the temple after a blessing ceremony.
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According to De Silva, the Buddhist Community has got no leads so far regarding the theft, hence he could not comment any further on the matter.
Speculations are on over this questionable event and while some are claiming the incident to be one of religious intolerance impending the visit of Dalai Lama in August this year, while some others remain clueless, however De Silva claims that there is no linkage between the two.
Without sufficient proof and lack of witness it is difficult to ascertain the real cause and master mind behind this unfortunate event. The community is still hoping and waiting for the convicts to be held and the information and help to come forward to trace the statue back again.
Although demoralised by this unfortunate and untimely event, the Association still is looking forward to hold a healthy, hopeful and peaceful Buddhist Religious Dialog following Dalai Lama’s visit to Botswana next month to demonstrate its policy of tolerance and democracy.
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