Candle Lighting and Special Prayers Held at BCC UK Gumba in Memory of Nirmal Purja
Purna Gurung, London — A candle-lighting ceremony and special prayer session was held at the Buddhist Community Centre (BCC) UK Gumba in Aldershot last Tuesday, 11 August, in memory of world-renowned mountaineer Nirmal Purja, popularly known as “Nims Dai,” who passed away tragically.
On 30 July, Nirmal Purja and nine others lost their lives in an avalanche while attempting to climb Broad Peak in Pakistan. The ceremony paid heartfelt tribute to all those who lost their lives in the tragedy.
Venerable Rinpoches and Khenpos, including Rinpoche Lungrik, Khenpo Wangchuk, Khenpo Kyalzang, and Acharya Pasang, conducted Molam recitations and special prayers for the deceased.
During the ceremony, BCC UK President Ang Dawa Sherpa, BCC UK Founder and Ama Chief Gyanumaya Gurung, and Ama Chief Sharada Gurung jointly lit candles and offered heartfelt tributes to the departed souls. BCC UK office bearers, advisers, trustees, and Ama members also lit 108 butter lamps, praying for the eternal peace of those who lost their lives.
Nirmal Purja’s mortal remains have now been brought back to the UK, and his funeral is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, 26 August.
The programme was chaired by BCC UK President Ang Dawa Sherpa and conducted by BCC UK General Secretary Major Kumar Gurung MVO.
