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Bhutan

King and Queen of Bhutan offer prayers for victims of Sri Lankan attacks

Their Majesties King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Queen Jetsun Pema (called The King and The Gyaltsuen, respectively in Bhutan) offered prayers at the Kuenrey of the Tashichhodzong (Buddhist monastery) for those impacted by the terror attacks in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday.

Their Majesties offered a thousand butter lamps filled with clarified butter during their prayers “in memory of those who lost their lives in a series of bomb attacks in Sri Lanka on Sunday,” the Royal Office for Media explained on social media.

They were joined by the Prime Minister and other government officials in the prayers.

Butter lamps “symbolise the dispelling of darkness, to illuminate wisdom and are believed to accumulate karmic merit,” the Royal Office explained.

They added that when butter lamps are offered on behalf of the deceased, they “are intended to bring them peace and the benefit of good karma in their subsequent journey in the afterlife.”

King Jigme Khesar Namgyel has ordered prayers in some of the most sacred Buddhist temples in his kingdom.

The King also sent a message of condolence to the President of Sri Lanka, Maithripala Sirisena to express “solidarity of the people of Bhutan with the people of Sri Lanka.”

The Royal Office for Media explained the close connections of Bhutan and Sri Lanka, “Bhutan and Sri Lanka have close relations due to a shared spiritual heritage and as co-members of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). Bhutan continues to send a number of students to study medicine in Sri Lanka each year, and a large number of Bhutanese doctors have a special connection to Sri Lanka, having lived and studied there.”

Christians celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ were targeted in the bombings at three different churches were Easter Mass was taking place. Close to 300 were killed (so far) and another 500 injured in the attacks on the holiest Christian holiday.

Suicide bombers also targeted three luxury hotels. Sri Lanka has blamed ISIS with Indian intelligence supporting their claims.

About author

Brittani is from Tennessee, USA. She is a political scientist and historian after graduating with a degree in the topics from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, in December 2014. She also holds a master's degree from Northeastern University. She enjoys reading and researching all things regarding the royals of the world. She's been researching, reading, and writing on royalty for over a decade. She became Europe Editor in October 2016, and then Deputy Editor in January 2019, and has been featured on several podcasts, radio shows, news broadcasts and websites including Global News Canada, ABC News Australia, WION India and BBC World News.