Bodh Gaya — With the commencement of His Holiness the Dalai Lama's 34th Kalachakra Initiation, social services for attendants are in full swing at the largest Buddhist congregation in Bodh Gaya. An estimated 200,000 devotees have come to attend the Kalachakra Initiation, organized by the Central Tibetan Administration.
An army of volunteers, clad in yellow uniforms are seen offering help to old aged devotees, lost children, receiving devotees at railway stations/airports and securing the devotees’ camps day and night.
Under the slogan ‘Service to people’, volunteers of the Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC) organization are organizing one of the largest social services, aimed at ensuring ease and chaos-free teaching experience for all devotees.
In an interview with Tibet.net, Mr Tenzing Jigme, President of TYC, introduced the string of services led in action from December 23rd, “We are aiming to provide maximum service to all devotees gathered for the Kalachakra teachings. A special feature of our social service program during this Kalachakra is the wheelchair service through which we enable many old aged pilgrims and differently abled, to circumambulate the Mahabodhi stupa, visit nearby monasteries and make smooth passage to and fro from Kalachakra teachings to their rooms.”
This massive welfare service is being achieved through a team of 250 volunteers from 19 regional Tibetan Youth Congress and TYC chapter members from five different colleges across India.
The services being provided by TYC include:
Announcement centers: A total of 15 volunteers are stationed at two announcement centres to make announcements regarding the schedules of Kalachakra proceedings, lost and found belongings of the devotees, emergency help contacts and to provide guidance and assistance requested by devotees.
Unit for newly arrived Tibetans from Tibet: This unit of 30 volunteers are stationed at the Reception Centre round-the-clock to provide interpreter assistance and to guard the devotees’ tents during teachings. The group also assist the main office at the Tibetan Reception Centre.
Also an emergency unit, special unit of wheelchair service for aged devotees, medical service team, reception unit, care for aged and destitute people, security unit, and a ticket booking service.
