His Majesty the King offered prayers and butter lamps on Saturday morning in the Kuenra of Tashichhodzong for the victims of the recent terrorist attacks in the Indian city of Mumbai. The prayers were also conducted to express solidarity with the government and people of India and offer condolence to the families of the victims.

As the monks of the central monastic body recited special prayers in the Kuenra of the Tashichhodzong, His Majesty the King offered butter lamps and prayers for the victims of the terrorist attacks. His Majesty the fourth Druk Gyalpo and His Royal Highness Prince Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck also offered butter lamps and prayers.

The ceremony was presided over by the venerable Drapei Lopen Sangay Dorji and performed by the monks of the Zhung Dratshang.

The Prime Minister Lyonchhen Jigmi Y. Thinley, Cabinet Ministers, the Indian Ambassador to Bhutan, Sudhir Vyas, parliamentarians and representatives from the international community and senior government officials also attended the prayer ceremony.

Early in the morning of November 27, His Majesty sent messages of condolences to the people of India, the Indian President, Prime Minister, and to the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi.

Over the past three days, the city of Mumbai was rocked by a series of terrorist attacks in which 154 people were killed and around 400 people injured.

The stand-offs began late on Wednesday when gunmen armed with automatic weapons and grenades opened fire indiscriminately on crowds at a major railway station, the two hotels, the Jewish centre, a hospital and a cafe frequented by foreigners. Source: BBS