Built some 147 years ago, Tsirang’s oldest Hindu Mandir in Gosarling Gewog finally got a facelift. The temple, which was reopened to the public yesterday, was renovated with funding support from His Majesty The King. Owing to its age, the mandir holds a special place in the hearts of the devotees.
The Singa Devi Hindu Mandir is located just below the road at Changchay. Unlike in the past, the Mandir now has a spacious area for devotees to make prayers and offerings.
It houses Lord Shiva, Radha Krishna, and Ganesh. Three individuals from the gewog contributed the statues.
“In 2016, the mandir was very small and in poor condition. Moreover, it was covered with bushes. We consider this mandir equivalent to that of Dechenphu Lhakhag in Thimphu. If devotees could come here and offer prayers, every aspiration and wish will be fulfilled,” said Ram Bdr. Karki, Gosarling Gup.
“We are grateful to His Majesty The King for the Mandir’s renovation. We do not have such a sacred and old Mandir in Tsirang. Henceforth, the Hindu community can conduct any kind of religious event such as Puran here. Families having space congestion at homes can also come and organise rituals here,” said Dina Nath Adhikari, president of Hindu Dharma Samudaya.
A group of former armed force personnel in the gewog undertook the renovation project.
“His Majesty granted Nu 1 M each to construct a Chorten and renovate Mandirs in the district during the Royal Audience with ex-armed forces in 2018. We have consulted with the elderly people in the district and most of them recommended us to renovate this Mandir. So, we decided to renovate this mandir as it was dilapidated and required immediate attention,” said Sangdho, former armed force, Gosarling Gewog.
According to the district’s Hindu Dharma Samudaya, today, more than 60 per cent of the population in Tsirang follow Hinduism.
Pema Tshewang, Tsirang
Edited by Sonam Pem
