Project Proposal: 

Construction of Multipurpose room for the Lhodrak Seykhar Marpa and Mila Society.

1. Introduction

The Lhodrak Seykhar Marpa and Mila Society was founded by the people of Lhodrak Sey. Currently we are based in Dekyiling, Dehradun, India. Lhodrak Sey is  the birthplace and hometown of Marpa Rinpoche, the founder of the Kagyu school of thought. Our ancestors established this society to preserve the ancient cultures and traditions of Lhodrak Sey, which have been upheld through the Seykartook (Seykhar Festival) since the time of Marpa and Milarepa. This festival began with the erection of Seykhar Guthok and was celebrated continuously until 1959.

Following the Chinese invasion of Tibet, our people escaped to Bhutan, where we were unable to continue the festival. However, after relocating from Bhutan to Dekyiling, Dehradun, India, in 1986, our ancestors revived the Seykartook festival with contributions from our members. Since then, we have continued to celebrate this important cultural event annually.

2. Current Situation

Currently, the Lhodrak Seykhar Marpa and Mila Society operates from a small 10×15 feet room that serves as our office, shrine, and storage space. Despite these limitations, we remain committed to preserving the ancient Marpa and Mila cultures and traditions through the annual Seykartook festival, held on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month. Every year, we train younger generations in traditional Cham dance and song performances. Additionally, we invite Kagyu Lamas and teachers, including Gyalwa Karmapa Rinpochey, to share the teachings of lama Marpa and Jetsun Milarelpa with the public.

3. Challenges

Our society faces several significant challenges due to the inadequate size and condition of our current facility:

• Space Constraints: The small room prevents us from effectively performing monthly prayers and festival rituals. During festivals, we are forced to rent community halls, which limits our ability to host events.
• Building Condition: The old building is prone to leaks, which have damaged our Cham costumes and shrine materials.
• Lack of Meeting Space: We are unable to hold members’ meetings due to the lack of adequate space.

4. Proposed Solution

To address these challenges, we propose constructing a new multipurpose building on our existing 35×50 feet lot. This new facility will be a three-story structure with a roof, designed to accommodate all of our society’s needs:

• 1st Floor: Small kitchen and storage area.
• 2nd Floor: Office and conference room.
• 3rd Floor: Shrine.

5. Budget

The estimated budget for the construction of the new multipurpose building is as follows:

6. Conclusion

The construction of a new multipurpose building for the Lhodrak Seykhar Marpa and Mila Society is crucial for preserving our rich cultural heritage and traditions. This new facility will provide the necessary space and infrastructure to conduct our prayers, meetings, and the annual Seykartook festival, free from the constraints and challenges posed by our current inadequate setup.

By investing in this project, we ensure the continuation and flourishing of the Marpa and Mila traditions for future generations. We are confident that with your support, we can achieve this goal and create a lasting legacy for the Lhodrak Seykhar Marpa and Mila Society. We humbly request your help with this project—any contribution you make will make a profound difference.