Ending a two-year hiatus amid the Coronavirus pandemic, hundreds of devotees from the Hindu community attended the last day of the Bol Bam festival in Gelephu today. Bol Bam is a month-long Hindu festival devoted to the Hindu God Shiva.
Carrying water in a small pot, hundreds of devotees lined up to offer it to Lord Shiva at the Shivalaya Mandir. People from as far as Tsirang, Dagana and Zhemgang came to attend the festival.
It is believed that offering sacred water to Lord Shiva every Monday during the Bol Bam festival will wash away sins and fulfil wishes.
“I came here today in the hope of getting blessed by God for our well-being now and after,” said Nandhalal Pokrel, a devotee from the district.
“Today is the final day of offering. Mondays are devoted to the worship of Lord Shiva. And taking his name, I have come here to pray for the well-being of all sentient beings,” said Man Maya Kafley, another devotee.
The festival starts in mid-July and lasts till mid-August.
Devotees travel barefoot by the riverside to collect water to offer it to Lord Shiva at the Shivalaya Mandir.
In the absence of a temple, people from the Hindu faith travelled to India to attend the festival. Inaugurated in 2018, the temple is a gift from His Majesty The King to the Hindu community in Sarpang.
Karma Wangdi, Sarpang
Edited by Sonam Pem
