About 80 De-Suups from Chhukha and Samtse are in Passa Tumdra Ami Ney to manage the crowd at the ongoing three-day Hindu festival Shivratri. De-Suups have been helping in crowd management at the Ney since 2015.
Ever since the De-Suung integrated training programme was instituted in 2011, the DeSuups have been playing active roles during national events, volunteer rescue efforts, at time of disasters, charitable activities and religious ceremonies within and outside the country.
Among many volunteer services, De-Suups say crowd management at the Passa Tumdraami Ney is one of the most challenging ones.
Since the ney is located at the border, people travel via Hasimara and Kalchini, an Indian town under West Bengal. The ney is said to be visited by Guru Rinpoche and was later discovered by Thangthong Gyalpo. It is believed that Terton Drukdra Dorji also spent few years meditating at the ney.
During Shivratri, over 100,000 Indians visit the Ney and make offerings. The ney is inside the steep cliff, devotees have to walk through a narrow path, climb steep steps and cross the river.
The journey towards the ney is very risky and there were reports of casualties in the past. However, after the De-Suups started controlling the crowd, the incidents have gone down.
“During the three days event, 100,000 of Indian devotees come here. The place is very risky but we De-Suups are doing our best rendering our services” Chencho Dhendup, a De-Suup, said.
“De-Suups come here, coordinate and support each other. Due to this, everything is going on smoothly. People appreciate our duty and we can see an increasing number of pilgrims every year,” Tashi Dorji, another De-Suup, said.
The pilgrims, too, are grateful and happy with the services.
“I feel safe with well-coordinated crowd management. Last time, I came with seven people and this time there are 12 people in my group,” Swaroop Kumar Pal, a Pilgrim from Siliguri in India, said.
The ney’s lam Jigme Dorji said with support from the De-Suups and a medical team the event is well managed.
“Since 2015, as per His Majesty’s command, De-Suups are deployed here to control and coordinate the crowd. Pilgrims from India visit to offer prayers to Lord Shiva and Parvati. Lord Shiva is known as ‘Lha Wangchuk’ in Buddhism. It is believed that whatever we pray for, it gets fulfilled here.”
The ney is nearly two hours drive from Phuentshogling. It remains inaccessible during the monsoon. Also, the place is cut off from the mobile network.
