I have heard and read a number of comments about the healing waters of Dawasamu. Some have told stories of its miraculous healings and others have scoffed at it as a mere figment of imagination. But the Dawasamu healing waters have continued to attract thousands of visitors per day.
Therefore, I decided to visit the much-talked about place myself.
I made arrangement with Lusi, a family friend, and her son Jone to act as our guide to visit Dawasamu.
We left Namadi Heights at 2pm and reached Tailevu township at 2.45pm. We crossed the bridge and swung right on to the beautifully tarsealed road leading to Natovi jetty, passing close the newly-renovated RKS and QVS and then on to the bumpy and dusty road leading to Dawasamu.
Upon inquiry Jone told me that it would take approximately 20 to 25 minutes on this dirt road to reach the village. We reached at 3.45pm. Lusi had already made arrangements with a relative in the village for a parking spot for our car. An elderly gentleman ushered us into our parking space. I saw a long line of vehicles of all shapes and sizes waiting in a queue along the narrow road.
At the village I discovered a hive of activity. There were newly-erected sheds where villagers sold fruits, hot tea/coffee, juice, etc.
Young boys carried roti parcels in plates and sold them to the people waiting in their vehicles. Tired and thirsty visitors bought these items and chatted away in a friendly camaraderie.
Others waited in their vehicles with doors wide open to allow for fresh air. There was an air of patience in waiting and a determination to reach the healing waters. A woman was being pushed on a wheelchair. A couple of village lads came running to help her. And I thought to myself, oh God, so much of the milk of human kindness that prevails here.
A group of village lads were busy carting water in plastic containers and a wheelbarrow. I noticed that they were moving towards the newly-erected toilets for the visitors and filling the drums there. Man it was a hard job, but the lads looked very enthusiastic.
A senior gentleman controlled the movements of the vehicles. He was wearing a yellow striped jacket. He occasionally shouted orders to other village lads wearing similar jackets. Another lad was supplying drinking water to the visitors waiting in their vehicles. It then occurred to me that they all were members of the village committee to serve the visitors
We were told that the site of the healing waters would open at 5pm. At 5.15pm the vehicles started a slow crawl. A waiting sick person died and there was a commotion.
Our turn to enter the one-lane dirt road to healing waters came at 8pm. Village lads controlled the movements and the parking of 30 vehicles which were allowed to go in at any one time. This prevented congestion and allowed for easy flow.
The believers rushed in to have their showers and to fill water in the plastic containers for use at home. It was pitch dark because the area has no electricity. People used torches and helped each other. The sound of cheerfulness in their voices reflected that they were happy to be there and thanked God for the opportunity.
My group finished at 9pm and we started driving back on the narrow road. As we returned we saw a long line of vehicles still waiting for their turn. We saw more vehicles coming in at that time. The area is well outside the mobile net communication and if things went wrong there would be no way of communicating with the world outside.
When our car finally reached the tarsealed road we breathed a sigh of relief that we had made it safely. We reached home at 11pm and our heart went out to those who still waited in the queue.
Dawasamu villagers deserve our hearty thanks for their kindness, love and compassion. Dawasamu’s healing waters phenomena will linger in my mind for a long time. There must be a supernatural force to attract thousands from around the world.
You have got to see and experience this to believe it.
