What began as a sacred journey to Mount Kailash became an unexpected test of faith for Durban pilgrim Sulosh Pillay, when devastating floods struck areas she and her fellow pilgrims had travelled through only days earlier.
Pillay undertook the pilgrimage with her daughter, Dr Keshnie Pillay, and members of the Mohanji family. For her, the journey was never simply about reaching a destination.
“This was never simply a journey to another destination. The pilgrimage to Mount Kailash was something I felt deeply within my soul,” she said.
Mount Kailash, regarded as the sacred abode of Hindu deities Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, held deep spiritual significance for Pillay, who said she felt called to experience the stillness, surrender and introspection associated with the sacred mountain.
Before the floods, Nepal had already made a lasting impression on her through its mountain landscapes, ancient spirituality and the warmth of its people.
“There was a humility in the way people lived and interacted with one another,” she said.
The group continued their journey with little indication of how dramatically conditions would soon change.
The first real sense of the disaster came when they began receiving calls about flash floods affecting areas through which they had recently travelled.
“We had physically walked those routes only days before. We had seen the roads, the pathways, the rivers and the communities along the way. Then we began to understand that some of those very paths had been completely washed away,” Pillay said.
The flooding disrupted routes and altered the group’s plans, forcing them to adapt as conditions changed.
For Pillay, uncertainty became one of the defining parts of the experience.
“We often think surrender means accepting something when everything is going according to our wishes. But true surrender is being able to say, ‘I don’t know what happens next, but I trust,’” she said.
Travelling with her daughter added another emotional dimension to the journey.
Pillay said that while her instinct as a mother was naturally to protect, she also drew strength from sharing the experience with Keshnie, whom she described as a strong woman.
“We shared moments of uncertainty, faith, concern and gratitude. I think some experiences create a bond that words cannot really describe,” she said.
As news of the devastation continued to emerge, Pillay’s thoughts turned to the families and communities affected by the floods.
“You begin thinking about the people who live there – not as statistics, but as mothers, fathers, children, families and communities,” she said.
She was also struck by the humanity shown during the crisis and the willingness of people to support one another.
“When disaster strikes, labels disappear. We are simply human beings trying to help human beings,” Pillay said.
The experience, she said, reinforced the spiritual principle of “Sabke Malik Ek” and her belief that compassion should extend beyond borders, beliefs and backgrounds.
As the situation developed, the focus of the journey shifted from following the original pilgrimage itinerary to navigating the circumstances safely and making their way home.
Rather than viewing the disruption as separate from the pilgrimage, Pillay came to see it as part of its deeper meaning.
“The mountain became a teacher. We can plan everything in life, but ultimately we have to surrender to what is beyond our control,” she said.
Now back home, Pillay believes the experience has changed the way she understands both pilgrimage and spirituality.
“Perhaps that is the greatest lesson of Kailash: you don’t leave Kailash behind when you return. You carry the experience within you,” she said.
Her thoughts remain with those whose lives were affected by the disaster, and she urged South Africans to remember the people behind images of destruction.
“I would ask people to keep those families in their hearts and, where possible, support legitimate relief and recovery efforts,” she said.
For Pillay, the journey ultimately became one of gratitude, humility and renewed commitment to service.
She said: “Compassion has no borders. We are one humanity.”
