BODH GAYA, January 11: One of the hallmarks of the 32nd Kalachakra teachings has been the social service work rendered by volunteers of the Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC), the largest pro-independence group in exile.

Continuing its fine tradition of social work at Kalachakras, the group’s work was hugely appreciated by the large gathering of devotees.

TYC’s volunteers in their yellow jerseys were the most visible sign of help and solace – right from the train stations to the hospitals – especially for those who had come all the way from Tibet and faced difficulties in communicating with the locals.

“We are very happy that we successfully completed the Kalachakra teaching services. Our volunteers worked really hard,” said Tsewang Rigzin, the president of Tibetan Youth Congress.

“Working 24×7, our volunteers gave up their personal works like meeting relatives and listening to the teachings,” added Rigzin. “TYC whole heartedly appreciates their hard work, commitment and dedication”.

With decades of experience in providing social services at large gatherings, TYC began helping pilgrims weeks before the actual teachings began. Volunteers of the group in Kathmandu, Dharamshala, and Delhi helped pilgrims reach the venue of the teachings while TYC members in Bodh Gaya made sure that the pilgrims reached their tents and rooms, safely.

Amidst fears of over a thousand Chinese spies at the teaching venue, TYC boosted the security apparatus in and around Bodh Gaya, with its volunteers providing round the clock vigilance.

“Shonu (TYC) have been very helpful. If it was not for them, we might not have made it safely and on time to Bodh Gaya,” a Tibetan pilgrim from Tibet said.

Another Tibetan from the US was full of praise for the “untiring” public announcements by the TYC information centre.

“Thanks to the untiring public announcements that TYC made, I was able to meet my relatives from Tibet whom I had not met for over a decade now,” the Tibetan-American said. “Re-uniting a long separated family is an awe-inspiring job and they (TYC) are good at it”.

TYC had set up two public announcement centres at Bodh Gaya, catering to the requests of announcements from the thousands of devotees. While some of the announcements that could be heard all around the teaching venue concerned with finding long separated relatives and friends, others were for lost children in the crowd.

Apart from their other services, the TYC emergency group, helped in cremating 13 people who passed away during the Kalachakra teachings.

“TYC volunteers cremated 13 people during the course of the teachings and also provided financial help to certain families who couldn’t afford the charges,” Rigzin told Phayul. “We also footed the bills for some of the patients hospitalised during the course of our social work here.”