A Message For Peace: Is Bhutan Leading The World Spiritually?
Bhutan hosts the first-ever Global Peace Prayer Festival 2025 in Thimphu, held in continuation of the celebrations marking the 70th birth anniversary of His Majesty the Fourth King, Jigme Singye Wangchuck — the visionary behind Gross National Happiness.
The two-week festival brings together spiritual leaders, monks and practitioners from around the world to offer prayers for peace, compassion, and global harmony.
The event features powerful rituals such as the Jabzhi Dhoechog, Bazaguru mantra recitation, and the Kalachakra Empowerment led by His Holiness the Je Khenpo. It also marks historic milestones — including the ordination of over 250 Buddhist nuns, symbolizing inclusivity and empowerment.
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Buddhism, founded by Siddhartha Gautama — the Buddha — is a spiritual tradition centered on compassion, mindfulness, and the path to liberation from suffering. Over time, it evolved into three major sects.
Theravada, practiced mainly in Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia, preserves the earliest teachings and emphasizes individual enlightenment through meditation and discipline.
Mahayana, widespread in East Asia, focuses on the Bodhisattva ideal — seeking enlightenment not just for oneself but for all beings.
Vajrayana, prominent in the Himalayas including Bhutan and Tibet, uses advanced rituals, mantras, and tantric practices to accelerate spiritual transformation. Together, these traditions reflect Buddhism’s rich diversity while sharing the same core message: awakening through wisdom and compassion.
All three major Buddhist traditions — Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana — are coming together to participate in this peace prayer programme. Their unified presence makes the festival truly historic, as it brings diverse Buddhist lineages under one roof to offer collective prayers for harmony, compassion and global peace.
With Prime Minister Narendra Modi joining the celebrations, the festival stands as a profound expression of Bhutan’s spiritual heritage, unity and its enduring message of peace to the world.
This article and video has been published in partnership with Newsreel Asia.
Harshita Rathore is video editor of Newsreel Asia, specialising in narrative visual journalism.
Surabhi Singh is a documentary filmmaker and one of the founding members of Newsreel Asia.