For thousands of devotees attending the oral transmission of the Dudjom Sungbum in Gelephu, accommodation has not been a concern. Temporary shelters, school facilities, and open spaces have been arranged to host participants arriving from across the country.
About 25,000 devotees from across Bhutan have gathered in Gelephu to receive the empowerment and oral transmission of the Dudjom Sungbum, the complete collected works of Dudjom Jigdral Yeshe Dorji Rinpoche. The empowerment and oral transmission are being conducted by Garab Rinpoche.
To accommodate the large gathering, organisers have opened school classrooms, multipurpose halls, and temporary tents. Open areas, including school compounds and the football ground, have also been designated for devotees wishing to pitch their own tents.
The arrangements are aimed at ensuring inclusivity, particularly for those without relatives in Gelephu or unable to afford hotel accommodation.
Wangchuk, a devotee who came from Dagana said, “Gelephu is easily accessible, with resources available nearby. If such an empowerment were held in Thimphu, especially at Kuenselphodrang, travel and accommodation would be very difficult. Based on my experience, Gelephu is the most suitable place for such large religious gatherings.”
Choney Dorji who came from Pema Gatshel said, “Staying here is very convenient. In places like Phuentshogling and Toorsa, which are located along riverbanks, accommodation used to be quite uncomfortable. Gelephu, however, is pleasant and comfortable, with many options for people to stay.”
Likewise, Bumpa from Trashigang said, “The area here is vast and well-suited for large gatherings. With spacious grounds, it is easy to set up tents, even on school campuses. In higher-altitude areas, pitching tents is often difficult, and space is limited. Gelephu can comfortably accommodate around 20,000 people, whereas higher places feel congested even with about 10,000.”
The prayer ceremony, originally scheduled to conclude on the 13th of this month, will now end earlier, on Monday. Devotees say the arrangements reflect careful planning and they remain hopeful that the sacred teachings shared here will continue to flourish for generations.
Passang Dorji/Karma Wangdi
