Bol Bam Hindu festival is underway at Shivalaya Mandir in Gelegphu, which was a gift from His Majesty to the people of the Hindu community of Sarpang dzongkhag.
The community usually travel to India, this time of the year, to attend the Bol Bam festival devoted to Hindu God Shiva but not any more with having a Shivalaya Mandir in Gelegphu. Bol Bam is a month-long festival but the offering will be only on Mondays of this month-long festival. Monday is considered to be the day of Lord Shiva according to the Hindu mythology. It is believed that anyone who offers prayers and special pujas on Mondays of this festive month, Lord Shiva fulfils his or her wishes.
The festival starts usually from mid-July and lasts till mid-August.
Devotees travel barefoot by the riverside and collect water in a small pot from the river and offer it to Lord Shiva back at the Shivalaya Mandir. People as far as from Dagana, Tsirang and Zhemgang came for the festival.
