A day with my family

It has been a long standing wish of my parents to visit the Druk Wangyel Chorten for the third time. The 108 stupas were built on the Dochula pass, which is around 20 KMs away from Thimphu city by the Royal Queen Mother Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuk in the memory of the lives lost during the 2003 battle against the insurgents. It marks the victory of Bhutanese troops lead by His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuk himself.

Today was a good occasion as it marks the end of a month long saga dawa. It was 6 AM, when I saw my mother stepping into the kitchen to prepare the pack-lunch. My mind wanted to get up and help her but I couldn’t convince my body. Mothers are mothers no matter how old her daughter become. After 20 minutes, I finally made myself out of my bed and managed to help her a bit. My sister was helpless on the other hand as her baby having cough and cold didn’t let her sleep the whole night. By 8 AM, we all were ready and set off towards Dochula pass.

 

My family

After an hour ride, we reached our destination which was very foggy and chilly too. We made three rounds of the stupas along the footpath and then went to the Druk Wangyel Lhakhang located on the opposite hilltop. With our offerings and prostrations made, we came out and had a tea break. We then resumed circumambulating the stupas. There were lots of tourists on the site and of course lots of Bhutanese like us who came to gain some merits. 

Foggy Dochula

The weather became foggy now and then because of which my tiny little nephew started crying. He became completely restless and didn’t even bother to stop even after my sister tried breast feeding him so many times. He was then kept inside the car with his dad, thinking he can escape the cold but after an hour, nothing worked to give him peace. His little eyes were watery from cold and crying so much. We then decided to return back.

Our Lunch

While returning back, we stopped by a water prayer wheel at Hongtsho to have our delicious packed-lunch. It was a great day out with my family after such a long time.