Sulosh Pillay with women from Nepal.
Image: Supplied
Sulosh Pillay and six fellow Mohanji Foundation SA pilgrims say they crossed the Nepal-Tibet border route to Mount Kailash three days before flash floods devastated parts of the region, leaving them safe but deeply concerned for those affected
Pillay, who leads the Mohanji Foundation SA and the Mohanji Centre of Benevolence in Nonoti, arrived in Nepal on August 20.
This is her first trip to Nepal.
Pillay and six other members of the Mohanji Foundation group missed the devastating flash floods that swept through parts of the Tibet-Nepal border region on Wednesday.
They crossed the affected area three days before the disaster.
Deeply spiritual journey
While Pillay and her group is safe and continuing with the pilgrimage, she said the news of the devastation had cast a shadow over their ‘deeply spiritual journey’.
“There are seven of us on the pilgrimage but we are travelling alongside several other groups made up of people from different parts of the world,” Pillay said.
“With Mohanji's grace, all is going well for the Kailash with our group. Mohanji is also in Darchen with World Tribal Alliance (WTA) elders and guests. However, with Mohanji's grace, our group is safe.”
Pillay said the group had entered the Kailash region just three days before the floods, making the timing of their safe passage difficult to comprehend.
Sulosh Pillay and six fellow Mohanji Foundation SA pilgrims say they crossed the Nepal-Tibet border route to Mount Kailash three days before flash floods devastated parts of the region, leaving them safe but deeply concerned for those affected
Image: SUPPLIED
Kailash pilgrimage
“We are now deep into the Kailash pilgrimage, having crossed into the region just three days ago. As members of the Mohanji group, we feel an even deeper sense of gratitude for having reached this sacred place safely,” she said.
The group had crossed a precarious bridge and passed through immigration before continuing towards Mount Kailash, regarded by devotees as a sacred abode of Lord Shiva.
“It feels surreal though. We have been going back in our minds to those moments just three days ago. This included the excitement of crossing that precarious bridge, going through immigration, and knowing that we were finally entering what we regard as Shiva’s abode.
“There was such a sense of anticipation and gratitude. And now, knowing what has happened, those same memories carry a very different weight,” she added.
How quickly circumstance can change
Pillay said the experience had reminded her of how quickly circumstances could change.
“It reminds me how precious life really is. There is a mixture of deep gratitude and sadness. We are grateful to be safe and to have reached Kailash, but our hearts are heavy when we think about the devastation and the people affected,” she said.
Pillay said her connection with Nepal had made the disaster particularly difficult to process.
She had spent time in Kathmandu and interacted with local people before continuing on the pilgrimage.
Sulosh Pillay with her spiritual head Mohanji and another pilgrim in Nepal
Image: SUPPLIED
Warmth and kindness if the Nepali people
“We spent time in Kathmandu and experienced the warmth and kindness of the Nepali people, so this is not just a distant tragedy to us.
“For me personally, I keep thinking about the children I interacted with and the grandparents who were with them. I find myself praying that they are safe, that their families are safe, and that somehow they have been spared the worst of this devastation.”
The distance from the affected areas has also left the pilgrims feeling helpless, Pillay said.
“Unfortunately, we are already far into the Kailash pilgrimage and our ability to physically assist is very limited. We are not in a position to reach those affected directly.
“What we can do from here is pray, with sincerity and with all our hearts, for everyone who has been impacted, for those who have lost loved ones, and for those who are still waiting for news.”
Pillay said the initial reports of the disaster was particularly distressing because members of the group were unable to immediately establish what had happened or provide answers to people seeking information about their loved ones.
“When the reality of what had happened began to sink in, I broke down in tears. There was an overwhelming sense of helplessness,” she said.
She said being in a remote location made the situation even more difficult.
Limited information and protocols
She added that information was limited and that protocols prevented people from simply releasing information, particularly while families were desperately seeking news.
“The hardest part was knowing that people were calling us because they believed we might be able to help them find some reassurance.
“We wanted to help, but in many cases, all we could do was listen, share whatever verified information we had, and pray with them.”
Pillay said her time in Nepal had also strengthened his appreciation for the resilience of the country's people.
“Nepal touched me deeply. In many ways, it reminded me of home and of the underserved communities we have worked with in South Africa.
“The people are incredibly hardworking and resilient. There is so much poverty, and yet there is also such warmth, generosity and openness. Despite having so little, people embrace you with so much humanity.”
She said her interactions with children during the trip were among the experiences that remained most strongly in her thoughts following the floods.
“I am also grateful that, while I was there, I had the opportunity to serve the children in whatever small way I could. Sometimes we don’t realise the significance of a moment until we have left it behind.”
Sulosh Pillay and six fellow Mohanji Foundation SA pilgrims say they crossed the Nepal-Tibet border route to Mount Kailash three days before flash floods devastated parts of the region, leaving them safe but deeply concerned for those affected
Image: SUPPLIED
Do not give up hope
Pillay urged families waiting for information about relatives caught up in the disaster not to give up hope.
“I know that waiting for news about someone you love can be one of the most painful experiences imaginable.
“We may not have all the answers right now, and information may take time to reach you, but please do not lose hope.”
As the pilgrimage continues, Pillay said the group would keep the people affected by the floods in their prayers.
“From here, we are carrying the people of Nepal and all those affected in our prayers. We are praying for those who have lost loved ones, for those who are injured or displaced, and especially for the children and families caught in this devastation.
“Having just been among the people of Nepal, I can say that they are extraordinarily resilient and deeply human. Their warmth touched us. We left Nepal with those people in our hearts, and we are carrying them with us now.
“Our hearts are with Nepal. We pray for protection, healing, strength and, above all, for those still waiting to know that their loved ones are safe,” Pillay said.
