A home away from home for poor girls from Ladakh

Bhikkhu,a former soldier in the Army who became a monk at 21,is now in Chandigarh to realise a dream project – the newly constructed and ready-to-be-inaugurated Mahabodhi Padmaloka Girls Hostel,Chandigarh Branch,near Ramgarh. Travelling and giving lectures and slide shows on Buddhism,Bhikkhu inspires people to contribute to the causes he’s working for and this hostel is a big step ahead for the girls who come from the most remote areas of Leh and Ladakh,many without families and some from the China and Pakistan borders.

“As there are no facilities for studies after Class X in Leh,many girls come to Chandigarh to pursue various courses here and find it tough to pay the hostel fees or live as paying guests. This hostel will provide them not only free boarding and lodging but also opportunity. We have a facility for more than 100 girls to live here and we are going to expand further,” informed Sanghasena.

He said that education is the biggest step towards empowerment,especially for women. The Chandigarh hostel has been built with funds of 35 donors from Malaysia,who will be part of the inauguration ceremony on December 4 and it’s a moment of pride and joy for Bhikkhu.

“Also join us for a one-day seminar on Buddhism on December 5 at Inderdhanush,Panchkula,” invited Bhikkhu.