Category: Cultural

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Scotland Culture

Scotland Culture has been influenced by many people from various parts of the world. Along with Nordic influences, the Scots have Irish and Anglo Saxon ones as well. Certainly this country is made up of many different facets and is one that has produced some of the greatest inventors and writers that you will have heard of today.

The main religion in Scotland is Presbyterian however; there are a large number of Roman Catholics residing in the country as well. These people are actually descended from the Irish immigrants that chose to move here back in the 5th Century. The other main religion to be found in this country is the Episcopal and which is very similar to the Church of England.

Scotland has always had a great respect that education and learning is important. Throughout the country’s history, you will find those who have acquired a university education even though their beginnings were very humble. Today, though students who do not have the funds to be able to afford to go to university and wish to do so may apply for funds from the Carnegie Trust Fund in order to do so. This fund was set up in 1901 by an American Industrialist called Andrew Carnegie, but who in fact was born in Scotland.

Another part of Scottish culture, which remains in place after many centuries, relates to its clans (tribes). Throughout the year events, take place where the various clans are able to meet and take part in very sporting events. Today if you wish and want to enjoy all the spectacle of the Highland Games, there are plenty of these that you can arrange to see.

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Sikkim – Rich Buddhist Culture

Sikkim is the state that is located in the Himalayan mountain and is also located in the Himalayan hills and is also the paradise for the tourists. The government of India also takes steps to encourage the tourism and also takes effort on destinations, sites and culture. Sikkim is the small state in India that is having the lush green valleys and dazzling rivers. In Sikkim there are small villages, big modernized cities, well cultured and hospitable residents who follows different religion.

Importance of the Buddhism in Sikkim

The Buddhism in Sikkim is having the special place and is also the prominent secular place for Buddhism. There is the school of Buddhism that offers the Bhutias and Tibetans to follow the religion. The main followers of the Buddhism traces the history from the 15th and 16th century. That was the period when there was friction between the Tibetan Buddhists over the supremacy and there was also the differences in ideologies which was then based on the Tantric rituals. Sikkim is also having the number of the Buddhists temples, monasteries and learning centers that depicts the culture and value of the Buddhists in the state and the Himalayan region.

Major Buddhists spots in Sikkim

  • Rumtek Dharma Chakra Center: is situated at the distance of the 24 kilometers from the capital of the state, Gangtok. The Rumtek Dharma Chakra Center is the largest monastery of the state. The monastery follows the Tibetan Buddhism ans is also the home to the World’s most rare religious scriptures and other sacred objects.
  • Do- Drul Chorten: is the most divine object of Sikkim which has been ventured by the Buddhists. It has been established in the year 1945 by Trulshi Rimpoche the head of the Nyingma the order of the Tibetan Mahayana Buddhism. The stupa has been located at the campus of the Rumtek monastery. The Chorten is surrounded by the 10 prayer wheels and 2 huge statues of the Guru Padmasambhava.
  • Deer Park: located in Sikkim the deer park thats commemorates the Lord Gautama Buddha at deer park in Sarnath. The park is also known as the Rustamjee park and it also consists of the huge statues of the Lord Buddha with having a lamp burning in front of it with the golden letters by the Buddhists scholars Shantiveda:

“Shower forth, Ye Heavens sweet rains in season due,
That Earth’s rich harvest swell in ample stream,
Holdfast, O’ king, the path of righteousness,
That world on world may rise to bliss supreme.”

  • Khecheopalri Lake: Its one of the most divine site thats visited by the people of both the sects that is Hinduism and Buddhism.
  • Namgyal Research Institute of Tibetology: It is the one of the most popular learning center for the Buddhists along with this it is having the largest collection of books and manuscripts of the Mahayana Buddhism. The institute is having the 30 thousand volumes and translations of the teachings of Buddha.