CANACONA
Assembling at the site where the body was found a month ago, the monks lit candles and placed flowers at the spot. They later began to chant the Samantabhadra Aspiration prayers.
The 19 monks were led by Abbot of Pema Ts’al Monastery, Khenpo Kunga Dhundup, well-known as a ritual master specialised in performing rituals for the dead. The monks are reportedly in the country for the inauguration of a monastery at Mundgud near Hubli in Karnataka.
The prayers went on for about 40 minutes and a few foreign nationals and some locals also joined in the prayer service.
Later, the monk leading the spiritual team from Nepal interacted with the media through a Nepalese language interpreter and said the prayer was in Tibetan language. “The body is like a guesthouse and soul is a guest and at death, the soul leaves the guesthouse,” said the monk, who added that they would perform a bigger prayer service at their monastery.
Leela Fiorino, who is accompanying the team of monks, informed that several of these monks and the Abbot had performed a healing ceremony in Ireland last year. “They have a special fondness for the Irish people,” Fiorino said.
It may be recalled that the British-Irish backpacker, who was travelling on a British passport, was found raped and murdered on March 14 and a history sheeter, Viket Bhagat, is presently in lockup after being arrested in the case.
Meanwhile, the local church in Danielle McLaughlin’s home town of Buncrana in County Donegal celebrated a Mass on April 13, to mark one month of her death in Canacona.
Sources informed The Goan that many of Danielle’s school and college mates in Buncrana are also eager to know when the prime accused would be chargesheeted in court.
“We had her Month’s Mind mass here at the local church on April 13,” stated a message sent by one of Danielle’s close associates.
“When are these boys being charged? A lot of men and young boys who went to school, college and university with Danielle are very angry here. They seem to believe that more are involved. What do they say in Canacona,” the message added.
