Tens of thousands of volunteers have taken part in building 108 Buddhist stupas in Bhutan’s new mindfulness city, as the Himalayan kingdom embarks on an ambitious project allegedly aimed at boosting economic growth. The 15-metre-tall stupas were installed along a riverbank near the Indian border at the site of the future Gelephu Mindfulness City.

Officials claim that more than 40,000 volunteers participated in building the structures, starting work after midnight, while roughly 200,000 people attended the ceremony. Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck stated in a speech that he was allegedly worried the massive undertaking might fail, but expressed gratitude over the supposedly successful outcome.

The leadership of the kingdom hopes the project will address severe economic challenges, including rising unemployment, falling birth rates, and the mass migration of skilled workers. The special zone was established by royal charter in 2024 to create a vibrant economic hub, though critics point out the immense hurdles facing the landlocked nation wedged between China and India.

Analysts have questioned whether Bhutan can actually attract sufficient investment to realise its grand vision for the new city. Nevertheless, Indian billionaire Gautam Adani has joined the project, which is also linked to controversial cryptocurrency mining operations utilizing surplus hydropower to support regional development.

Source: www.aljazeera.com