At the beginning the Shajin Lama of Kalmykia, Telo Tulku Rinpoche, greets the people and gives a short talk: ‘We all know the history of our people. Despite hardships, we managed to keep our religion, traditions, and culture. Our grandfathers and grandmothers always believed in the future. Today we are opening a stupa of Enlightenment. According to Buddhist canons, there are eight types of stupas. This stupa has been built according to all Buddhist canons and is dedicated to the memory of all the previous generations. First of all, this is a religious event. I ask you to have pure thoughts before our lamas begin to read prayers. Do think that you have come here to collect merit. Do pray for the sake of all living beings so that there are no more diseases and sufferings’. Afterwards, lamas read prayers. Telo Tulku Rinpoche opens the stupa, consecrates it, and all the lamas go around the stupa. Telo Tulku Rinpoche asks the people to come to this stupa as often as they can and pray. Then the lay people go around the stupa and receive blessings and arshan (consecrated water) from the lamas. The event is concluded with a concert of Kalmyk songs and dances.