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Empong monastery, Namsai
ABOUT
Located at the confluence of Tissu and Marwa rivers, the monastery in Empong is one of the most important Buddhist chongs in Arunachal Pradesh. It is famed for its wish-fulfilling Buddha idol, known as the Phra Sutong Pe. Local legend suggests that this wooden idol had miraculously survived a huge fire in another monastery, and was found by a Singpho farmer far away from the original site of the fire. The farmer innocently asked the idol to keep the birds away from his field, which it did. The news spread and some people came and recognised the statue as the one that had been burnt in the fire. Deeming its reappearance miraculous, the village elders built a shrine for the idol at Empong, and since then, it is known for granting wishes to true devotes. At the entry of the monastery, a huge mango tree with enormous growth and size, perhaps the thickest in the world, will leave you jaw-dropped as it does to visitors from all corners of the world.
HISTORY
Empong monastery is considered by the local people as ‘Ti Met’ (holy place) as it is believed that the statue installed in there has special powers. The story goes that long time ago an innocent villager sometimes used the statue of Lord Buddha as guard to keep an eye on the rice grains drying in the sun and drive the birds away. It was noticed that whenever this was done, no birds came near to feed on the rice grains and rice stock remained intact. A visitor to the village noticed this, considered it to be the miraculous working of the statue, brought it back and installed it in the Empong monastery. Belivers visit the place to have their wishes fulfilled and hundreds flock here during the Sangken Festival every year. The sleepy village of Empong under Chongkham circle has another draw to it. It is believed that childless couples come here to the monastery to pray for their wishes and have had it fulfilled.
SPECIALITIES
Believers visit the place to have their wishes fulfilled and hundreds flock here during the Sangken Festival every year. The sleepy village of Empong under Chongkham circle has another draw to it. It is believed that childless couples come here to the monastery to pray for their wishes and have had it fulfilled.
CLIMATE
Due to the topographical diversity, the climate in Arunachal Pradesh ranges from sub-tropical to temperate depending upon the altitude. The regions in the lower belts of the state experience hot and humid climates, with a maximum temperature in the foothills reaching up to 40 °C (during the summer).
BEST TIME TO VISIT
March to June (10-31°C) - Summer - Hot. July to September (19-34 °C) - Monsoon - Heavy Rainfall. October to February (4-32 °C) - Winter - Snowy and Chill.
FOOD
The food of Namsai is largely rice-based supplemented by fish, meat and local vegetables.
ROAD CONDITION
Good and Beautiful
