15 Days blessing begins.

Over Changyu Bridge: Devotees return
to the wang venue after
lunch break yesterday

Dechhog Khorlo Dompai: By the time the dawn broke, and the light shone on to the first day of the Chakrasamvara (Dechhog Khorlo Dompai) wang in Punakha yesterday, thousands of people had already filled the Thangzona wangkhang.

Devotees, who had come to attend the wang, had started walking into the venue, which could accommodate more than 50,000 people, as early as 3am.

“I’m seeing such a huge congregation for the first time in my life,” Ap Kado from Wangduephodrang, said.

Police and desuups were positioned at entry and exit points at the Mochhu bazam and the Changyul bridge to control and manage the crowd.

“I thought the Mochhu bazam might collapse, when people rushed at one go,” a desuup said.

During lunch break, the entry and exit points were jammed by the crowd.  After being pushed in all directions, amid screaming women and children, devotees took more than an hour to get to the wangkhang.

“If such a rush persists, there’s a high chance of stampede at the bridges,” Kezang from Punakha said.

A smog of dust filled the air, despite having sprinkled water on the ground.

Vehicular traffic, however, had eased, despite seeing a jam for last two days.  There were designated parking spots for private vehicles.

The wang committee’s chairman, lopen Samten Dorji of Zhung dratsang, said more than 50,000 people could have turned up for the first day of the wang.

Meanwhile, monks and patrons offered prayers to His Holiness the Je Khenpo, who presided over the Chakrasamvara blessings.  His Holiness also talked to the devotees on the benefits and merits of the wang.

At the opening, cabinet ministers, led by the prime minister, Jigmi Y Thinley, attended the morning session of the wang.