SPRING ARRIVES AND ICE STUPA TEAM ENDS ITS RESIDENCY IN PHYANG…

And finally as winter ends the Ice Stupa team ends its full time residency at the Ice stupa base camp. From 1st of April the Phyang monastery represented by its manager Venerable Lama Konchok Rigzin will take over the day to day care of the Ice stupa irrigation system and all the 5,000 newly planted trees.

We will of course continue to work on and off, especially on improving the system for building at least seven ice stupas next winter, but we won’t be fully resident in Phyang as during the winter. We thank everyone for all the support they have given to this unique project of indigenous Ladakhi engineering.

People have often congratulated me (SW) for this work as if I was the one who made it happen, but I want to tell you all that nothing could be farther from the truth. Let me introduce you to the people behind the project without whose tireless work this project would not have been accomplished.

First of all it is His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpochey whose passion for greening the deserts under the Go Green Go Organic movement attracted SECMOL to the desert of Phyang. His Holiness has been an amazing support and inspiration for the project.

Then the team of young volunteers from SECMOL Campus who worked continuously for three months through the coldest times and hardest challenges often risking their own lives. I really salute these young heroes without whom I would have achieved NOTHING.

They are, in order of seating in the photo …
Thupstan Dawa Achinathang, Lobzang Dadul Phobrang, Sonam Dorjai Wakha, Stanzin Norbu Shara, Tsering Phuntsok Shara, Yasin Ahmed Chiktan, Sajjad Hussain Chiktan

Then there were volunteers who guided the ice stupa work with their expertise from time to time in execution and documentation…
They are:

Venerable Lama Konchok Rigzin, Dr Tsewang Thinlas, Stanzin Dorje Gya, Tsewang Paldan, Stanzin Detsal and Lars Lidstrom.

Then of course all the monks of the monastery, villagers of Phyang lead by Goba Tashi Dorje, the After School Phyang lead by its founder Ms Lissi Braae and the Jawans of Ladakh Scouts Centre Phyang lead by Colonel SS Patil.
And finally you, for contributing towards this project in cash, kind or good wishes...

Ladies and gentlemen! …
A BIG APPLAUSE FOR EACH ONE OF THEM!