In a wave of emotion sweeping across Bhutan, thousands of families are experiencing a homecoming unlike any other. Their sons and daughters, proudly clad in the signature green Gyalsup uniform, return from three months of transformative national service training. But these moments aren’t just personal reunions. They have become national symbols of pride, discipline, and identity, reaching the hearts of viewers across the country and beyond, through the growing tide of viral videos shared on social media.
Three months into the training, and when they return home, they are welcomed with a heroic gesture.
One such video that has touched the hearts of many features 19-year-old Kuenga Dendup Dukpa, who recently completed his Gyalsung training at the Pemathang Academy in Samdrup Jongkhar.
In the now-viral clip, Kuenga is seen running towards his parents, all of their eyes filled with tears, arms outstretched and white scarves fluttering in the wind.
As he approaches, Kuenga pauses to salute. Despite his visible emotion, he bows with dignity to receive the scarf of welcome from his parents.
“That moment overwhelmed me with gratitude and pride. Seeing my parents in tears, white scarves waving at me, it hit me how far I’ve come. My parents’ sacrifices and prayers pushed me through. I knelt not only as their son but as a Gyalsup who is going to make them and my country proud.”
He went on to reflect on his journey that groomed him.
“The toughest aspect of my training was the physical and mental discipline. Strict routines early in the morning, pushing beyond my limits but that hardship taught me resilience, self-discipline, and the value of perseverance. Before, I was a hesitant boy and now I am a confident Gyalsup, ready to serve with pride.
His father said that it was a moment that would stay with him for the rest of his life.
“When I saw my son run towards me with tears in his eyes, I could not be prouder than that. I saw my whole dream coming towards me and his mother. His dedication, discipline, and humanity were evident in his salute. It left an indescribable mark in my life,” said Tshering Dukpa, Kuenga’s father.
Such scenes are being replicated in towns and villages across Bhutan, but they are also resonating far beyond our borders.
One of the many inspiring participants of the programme is Sherab Lhazin Dolkar, a young woman who travelled from Australia to take part.
She had moved there with her family in 2019 and had been pursuing university studies in Perth when she made the bold decision to take a gap year and return home.
Sherab said her turning point came after watching the 2024 National Day celebrations with her mother.
“After that day, something ignited within us when we saw Gyalsups march into Changlimithang. My mother really wanted me to join, and she kept reminding me how important it is to stay connected to our roots. So I took a gap year and came back to Bhutan.”
She said that her training changed everything, from overcoming a language barrier and physical challenges to forging deep bonds with Bhutanese youth.
To her, seeing her aunt wait for her with a white scarf and a cake felt like she was being hugged by thousands of people. She said, she felt like she truly belonged.
19 year old Gyalsup Tshering Pelden also shares another such story.
“Before I left home, I had little knowledge about my responsibility to serve my country and my parents. But after Gyalsung, when I returned and saw the faces of my family, something shifted in me. I understood what service really means.”
Since the first batch of Gyalsups, these moments have come to represent more than personal transformation.
They have stirred national pride, unity, and a shared purpose.
In villages, homes, and hearts, Gyalsung is not just training; it is a revival of values, a movement of youth, and a reflection of His Majesty’s deep vision for the future of Bhutan.
As the white scarves are draped gently around the necks of returning Gyalsups, and as cakes are cut in their honour, Bhutanese families are celebrating not only homecomings, but new beginnings.
For these young men and women, the journey has only just begun. But already, they are stepping into the world not only as citizens, but as guardians of a future they now proudly claim as their own.
Namgay Dema
