Minnesota Buddhist community celebrates unveiling of new stupa in Minneapolis

Visiting monks brought flowers to be placed on the Stupa Friday.

Glen Stubbe, Star Tribune

Visiting monks brought flowers to be placed on the Stupa Friday, Oct. 6, 2023 Minneapolis, Minn. This Stupa Unveiling marks a significant milestone in the history of Minnesota Buddhist Vihara and is an occasion of great joy and appreciation. A Stupa is a large white cement dome topped with a brass pinnacle. A sacred stupa is a physical structure in which a relic of the Buddha, enlightened beings, or holy books is enshrined. It creates an opportunity for people to circumambulate and cultivate positive vibration and spiritual development. ] GLEN STUBBE • glen.stubbe@startribune.com

Glen Stubbe, Star Tribune

Founder of Minnesota Buddhist Vihara, Bhante Seewalie and visiting monk Ullala Chandima Thero placed flowers around the new Stupa Friday.

Glen Stubbe, Star Tribune

Attendees brought lotus blossoms to be placed on the Stupa Friday, Oct. 6, 2023 Minneapolis, Minn. This Stupa Unveiling marks a significant milestone in the history of Minnesota Buddhist Vihara and is an occasion of great joy and appreciation. A Stupa is a large white cement dome topped with a brass pinnacle. A sacred stupa is a physical structure in which a relic of the Buddha, enlightened beings, or holy books is enshrined. It creates an opportunity for people to circumambulate and cultivate positive vibration and spiritual development. ] GLEN STUBBE • glen.stubbe@startribune.com

Glen Stubbe, Star Tribune

Visiting monk Ullala Chandima Thero, center, and founder of Minnesota Buddhist Vihara, Bhante Seewalie, right, prepared the trays of jasmine and lotus for the ceremony Friday, Oct. 6, 2023 Minneapolis, Minn. This Stupa Unveiling marks a significant milestone in the history of Minnesota Buddhist Vihara and is an occasion of great joy and appreciation. A Stupa is a large white cement dome topped with a brass pinnacle. A sacred stupa is a physical structure in which a relic of the Buddha, enlightened beings, or holy books is enshrined. It creates an opportunity for people to circumambulate and cultivate positive vibration and spiritual development. ] GLEN STUBBE • glen.stubbe@startribune.com

Glen Stubbe, Star Tribune

Visiting monks brought flowers to be placed on the Stupa Friday.

Glen Stubbe, Star Tribune

Visiting monk Ullala Chandima Thero, left, and founder of Minnesota Buddhist Vihara Bhante Seewalie prepared for the unveiling Friday, Oct. 6, 2023 Minneapolis, Minn. This Stupa Unveiling marks a significant milestone in the history of Minnesota Buddhist Vihara and is an occasion of great joy and appreciation. A Stupa is a large white cement dome topped with a brass pinnacle. A sacred stupa is a physical structure in which a relic of the Buddha, enlightened beings, or holy books is enshrined. It creates an opportunity for people to circumambulate and cultivate positive vibration and spiritual development. ] GLEN STUBBE • glen.stubbe@startribune.com

Glen Stubbe, Star Tribune

Participants held Buddhist flags during the ceremony Friday, Oct. 6, 2023 Minneapolis, Minn. This Stupa Unveiling marks a significant milestone in the history of Minnesota Buddhist Vihara and is an occasion of great joy and appreciation. A Stupa is a large white cement dome topped with a brass pinnacle. A sacred stupa is a physical structure in which a relic of the Buddha, enlightened beings, or holy books is enshrined. It creates an opportunity for people to circumambulate and cultivate positive vibration and spiritual development. ] GLEN STUBBE • glen.stubbe@startribune.com

Glen Stubbe, Star Tribune

A drone circled as the brass pinnacle is unveiled Friday, Oct. 6, 2023 Minneapolis, Minn. This Stupa Unveiling marks a significant milestone in the history of Minnesota Buddhist Vihara and is an occasion of great joy and appreciation. A Stupa is a large white cement dome topped with a brass pinnacle. A sacred stupa is a physical structure in which a relic of the Buddha, enlightened beings, or holy books is enshrined. It creates an opportunity for people to circumambulate and cultivate positive vibration and spiritual development. ] GLEN STUBBE • glen.stubbe@startribune.com

Glen Stubbe, Star Tribune

Attendees brought flowers to be placed on the Stupa Friday, Oct. 6, 2023 Minneapolis, Minn. This Stupa Unveiling marks a significant milestone in the history of Minnesota Buddhist Vihara and is an occasion of great joy and appreciation. A Stupa is a large white cement dome topped with a brass pinnacle. A sacred stupa is a physical structure in which a relic of the Buddha, enlightened beings, or holy books is enshrined. It creates an opportunity for people to circumambulate and cultivate positive vibration and spiritual development. ] GLEN STUBBE • glen.stubbe@startribune.com

Glen Stubbe, Star Tribune