Turf Cutting Ceremony, Darjeeling November 2012

A report by Penny Hambly who visited Darjeeling and who spent some of her time visiting the orphanage

 (Hugh, DCT Trustee:)  “I can’t really see why it’s not possible to actually start the orphanage rebuild……” 

Nor, it soon transpired, could anyone else.  A few days passed -  me enjoying the many sights and cafes of Darjeeling,  whilst others sweated over meetings, discussions, mails and phone calls – and before you could say “Kanchenjunga”,  here we were, marching down, the Major at the helm,  to the boys orphanage for the turf cutting ceremony.  In addition to our small group (the Major, Hugh, Ricky and me),  I was anticipating Pema Bhante and a few of the boys being ‘on parade’ at 8.30 sharp. Not so. Despite the Major’s observation that “We say 8.30, and we mean 8.30” – a steady trickle of SIGNIFICANT PEOPLE  - governors, project manager, orphanage management board members - swelled the little crowd  teetering down the precipitous path to the new site for the next  half hour or so.  Along with the boys in immaculate uniforms and flip-flopped feet, and half a dozen orange- robed young monks, we grouped around a little makeshift shrine of bricks, incense, flowers, milk and candles.     

The assembly hushed as the monks began to chant and Hugh was invited to choose from an alarming selection of shovels and picks to strike the turf.  I thought this would be it; job done, but  it was just the start. The chant continued and there was polite applause before the second volunteer stepped up to swing the pick. And so it went on – Pema Bhante, the Major, the project manager, Ricky, the orphanage accountant, one of the boys – and even I was invited to have a go. Before long, quite a little pit had been dug, and in it, the bricks, candles and incense sticks were buried to bring good fortune to the building work.

There was more: khata scarves were presented to us and many photos taken. Finally we made our way back up, and at this point I bid a reluctant farewell to the jolly gathering in order to head back to Kolkata.  I certainly couldn’t have asked for a more exciting end; all those who have worked so hard towards this day deserve heartfelt congratulations…. and this is just the beginning!