The annual exodus to the holy city of Bodh Gaya in India, where prince Siddhartha gained Buddhahood 2,500 years ago, has begun.

Around 600 Bhutanese pilgrims, the first group this year, will reach the holy city today. They left Phuentsholing on October 31 on eight Indian buses.

The person-in-charge of their transportation, Lopen Mahakala, a gomchen, said that they planned to arrive in time for a Tshokhor performed by Garab Rinpoche.

50 Tata Sumos were also hired to take pilgrims direct from the southeastern town of Samdrup Jongkhar, Each pilgrim paid Nu 1,300 for a round trip.

“We reached Phuentsholing on October 28, but were not able to continue our travel because of a strike in West Bengal, India, which closed the roads for two days,� said Lopen Mahakala.

With hundreds of pilgrims in town, most of the hotels remained packed and those, who could not get any accommodation, were seen sleeping on the pavements along the Dotikhola, Zangtopelri Lhakhang and outside the Royal Insurance Corporation Complex. The strike in India was lifted on the evening of October 30.
Source: Kuenselonline