The Passa Tumdra Ami Nye in Darla Gewog in Chhukha saw over 50,000 Indians gather at the sacred site to celebrate Maha Shivaratri. Maha Shivaratri is a festival that is dedicated to worship Lord Shiva, and this year the day fell on the 21st of February.
People lined up at the base of the Nye, where the international boundary between Bhutan and India lies. Most devotees are barefoot and begin the arduous 30-hour wait to reach the cave of Lord Shiva, while on fast. The almost kilometre long journey is tough but the Hindu faithful are going nowhere without paying homage to Lord Shiva.
“In our Hindu religion, we consider Lord Shiva as our father and Mahakali as our mother. People from Assam, West Bengal, and other states come here. People stand and walk for over 30 hours to get here. Those who are at the base will take a similar time,” said Prasenjeet Dev Nath, from West Bengal in India.
Devotees who complete the journey return smiling and with a sense of fulfilment.
“To not wear any slippers and to keep fast during this celebration is part of our culture and faith. It is a commitment to self to break the fast only after meeting our god. To come here and pray in front of Lord Shiva gives everyone peace of mind and we pray everyone gets peace,” said Anil Sharma, from Kishanagar in Bihar, India.
While the main festival is just for a day and a night, people continue coming even before and after the main date.
Since the Nye is in Bhutan, close to 100 Desuups from Chhukha and Samtse, volunteers from the Bhutan Red Cross Society and Phuentshogling Duungkhag assisted in crowd management. His Majesty’s Kidu Medical Team also provided free medical services during the festival.
The Bhutan India Friendship Association coordinated the events at the Maha Shivaratri.
Sherub Dorji
