By Tendar Tsering
DHARAMSHALA, December 26: For two full weeks, volunteers of the regional chapter of the Tibetan Youth Congress in Dharamshala have been carrying out social service work – ushering pilgrims, especially from Tibet to their trains and booking specials buses straight from Dharamshala to Bodh Gaya, the venue for the 32nd Kalachakra initiations.
“Tibetans are enthralled to hear announcements in Tibetan language at the railway station in Pathankot (the nearest station from the exile seat of Dharamshala, north India). It is very inspiring as well as rewarding to be able to help our newly arrived brothers and sisters from Tibet,” said Tenzin Tsundue, the president of the Regional Tibetan Youth Congress (RTYC), Dharamshala.
In recent weeks, following His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s teachings at the request of Russian Buddhists, Dharamshala saw an expected rush of Tibetans from Tibet, who continue to make an arduous journey to India via Nepal without much knowledge of the place and the languages spoken.
With the usual private transporters hiking their bus fares, RTYC Dharamshala tied up with RTYC Delhi, and started arranging direct buses from here to Delhi and Bodh Gaya, the holiest place for Buddhists the world over.
“It’s illegal and irresponsible on the part of the local private bus owners to take advantage of the increased demand for the buses, and double the bus fares, so we found an alternate way to solve that problem,” added Tsundue.
Starting from 10th December, RTYC Dharamshala has been active in arranging hotels and rooms for the pilgrims from Tibet, here in the town, besides helping pilgrims at the Pathankot railway station and arranging direct buses to Bodh Gaya.
Till now, hundreds of pilgrims have benefited from RTYC’s social services with eight direct buses having been sent to Bodh Gaya.
TYC has assured of any emergency help during the teachings and urged the pilgrims to contact the organisation on the following numbers for any assistance +91 8084578578/+91 9546567775.
Kalchakra is a Sanskrit word which means the time-wheel. The initiations, first taught by Buddha Shakyamuni, are considered by Buddhists as one of the most important teachings.
The upcoming Kalachakra will be the 32nd occasion since His Holiness the Dalai Lama conferred the teachings for the first time in May 1954 at Norbulingka, Lhasa, Tibet. After a nine year gap, the Kalachakra in Bodh Gaya is expected to draw two hundred thousand devotees from all over the world.
