Three chiwogs of Nanong Gewog in Pema Gatshel completely depend on Chodpu Goenpa nunnery in the gewog to perform religious rituals. But, without a guesthouse, it is challenging for the nunnery to accommodate visitors. The nunnery is now requesting the relevant authorities to help them construct a guesthouse.
Chodpu Gonpa Nunnery is located above Geri village in Nanong Gewog. The construction of a farm road has made the Lhakhang accessible to an increasing number of devotees from other villages as well.
“It is inconvenient for us to host the guests inside the hostel. We somehow manage when the number is less. But it is a problem when we have a large number of visitors. We would be grateful if the government could provide us with a guesthouse,” said Kunzang Wangmo, a nun at the Lhakhang.
Today, the visitors are accommodated on the ground floor of the Lhakhang which was previously used for meditation purposes.
According to the gewog administration, they couldn’t do anything about the matter in the past years as they had to prioritize other developmental activities in the village.
However, the Gup said the office is looking into the possibility of constructing a few infrastructure including a guesthouse in the next Five Year Plan.
“The Lhakhang receives visitors not just from Pema Gatshel but lots of guests and devotees from other dzongkhags as well. So, they face a problem as they don’t have a guesthouse and proper public toilet. Now, we have plans to include that infrastructure in the plan and we will construct by seeking support from the government,” said Nanong Gup Sonam Jamtsho.
He added, that a proper resident for the Lam will also be included in the plan.
“If we can provide the infrastructure it will help increase nuns’ enrollment and even cater to the elderly people who want to spend time at the Goenpa. Three chiwogs in Nantong Gewog completely depend on the Lhakhang to perform rituals. So, gewog administration is looking forward to providing the support.”
Currently, there are 11 nuns and a teacher at the nunnery which was established in the 1980s. They sustain their livelihood from the contributions made by the villagers of the three chiwogs in Nanong Gewog.
Thinley Dorji, Pema Gatshel
Edited by Phub Gyem
