SHILLONG: The sound of prayers resonates across Gaden Choeling Monastery in Lumparing on Buddha Jayanti every year. Faithful come in hordes to take part in the rituals and even visitors are welcomed with biscuits, packets of chips and fruit juices, all from the offerings.
But this year was different. There were no chants or rush of visitors on the auspicious day on Thursday. Though the head monk, Lama Lopsang, apprehensively allowed the correspondent to enter the monastery, he was not in his usual friendly self.
“The police had come in the morning. We do not have permission to hold any ceremony. Now if I allow you, others too will want to come in. You know the rules right? We do not want any trouble here,” he said as he opened the gate.
The lockdown compelled many to stay home and forced the monks to refuse people from entering the place. Unlike other years, the monastery remained cloaked in the usual silence even on Buddha Jayanti. The strong scent of incense, the colourful prayer flags and the welcoming ambience were replaced by a sense of fear and aloofness. The main prayer room was closed but candles could be seen in another room through the door left ajar. There were less than 10 devotees in the monastery who managed to enter after requesting the monk. “But please hurry. If the police come again, we will be in trouble,” the monk repeated his request and kept looking at the gate.
The 12 monks living in the monastery are strictly following the lockdown guidelines and do not allow any visitor on other days, he added. “This year, it is a different scenario and I am sorry for being so strict about entry and for not welcoming you inside. I hope you understand,” Lopsang said with folded hands before seeing off the visitors.
Tibetan Settlement Officer Pema Dhondup said “an organisation probably held online prayers but I am not sure”.
At the monastery in Polo, the main prayer house was closed and visitors were allowed to light candles outside. The three monks were also absent. “They went to Badalpur in Assam before the lockdown and could not return. This monastery did not get permission to hold prayers or gatherings for the prevailing situation so devotees, though less in number, came to light candles,” said Sudarshan Barua, a Bengali Buddhist and resident of Polo. The monastery was almost empty at four in the evening and a few masked men and women sat near a peepal tree decorated with fairy lights. The candles, diyas and incense sticks were still burning outside but the day remained lacklustre.