Dalai Lama sends greetings for the Tibet Festival in Gangtok

Dalai Lama sends greetings for the Tibet Festival in Gangtok

Five-day Tibet Festival started Today

6 November, Gangtok: The Tibetan Community of Sikkim in association with three Tibetan NGOs from Dharamsala hosted the first-ever "Tibet Festival" today in Gangtok, Sikkim.

The festival will be organized from 6 - 10 November, 2009, at Kanchanjunga Shopping Complex, Lal Bazaar, Gangtok, Sikkim.

The Chief Guest Mr. T.T. Bhutia, the Minister of Transport & Public Health Engineering, in his address during the inaugural ceremony, appreciated the impressive work put up by the Tibetan community of Sikkim, and stressed on the importance of preserving Tibet's rich cultural heritage. He also spoke on possible joint venture between the Tibetan and Sikkimese religious groups. Knowing that both the Sikkimese and Tibetans share a common religion, he urged, "the young Sikkimese lamas have much to learn and have to seek guidance from Tibetan lamas on the intricacies of Buddhist rituals as they have much to learn".

This festival has been organized to acknowledge, honour and sincerely thank the government and people of India and especially the State of Sikkim and its people for providing a refuge in which the Tibetan community has thrived. Tibetans both inside and outside of Tibet are deeply conscious of the safe sanctuary that India has provided for us. We will remain ever grateful for all that India has done for us.

Mr. Karma Yougyal, Organising Secretary of the Tibet Festival whilst welcoming the guests said, "The festival expresses the preservation of Tibetan cultural identity that has been kept intact for the past 50 years. It will exhibit the spirit of Tibet in its original form."

Mr. Dhondup Dorjee, Tibetan Settlement Officer of Gangtok, read out the message of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. "I too have fond memories of my several visits of Sikkim. In particular, I have been deeply moved when undertaking pilgrimage to sacred sites like Tashiding and Pemayangtse." Writes the Dalai Lama.

Every Tibetan has a deep and inexpressible connection with His Holiness. He symbolizes Tibet in its entirety: the beauty of the land, the purity of its rivers and lakes, the sanctity of its skies, the solidity of its mountains, and the history and strength of its people.

His Holiness further writes, "I am therefore pleased to send my greeting on the occasion of a Tibet Festival that is being held in Gangtok from November 6 to 10, 2009 by the Tibetan Community in Sikkim to express their gratitude to the state government and the people of Sikkim. It is befitting that this festival is being held to coincide with the 50 years of the Tibetan people's life in exile."

Mrs. Kirti Dolkar Lhamo, President, Tibetan Women's Association, Centrex, in her introductory speech said, "We take this opportunity to convey our sincere indebtedness to His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama who for 50 years has provided an unwavering and visionary leadership for all Tibetan people everywhere in the world."

The Tibet Festival exhibits Tibetan culture, religion, Buddhist rituals, medicine and astrology, music and dance, costumes, arts and crafts, and cuisine.

"Sikkim has a special place in the hearts of Tibetan people. Its warmth of hospitality extended to us shall never be paid back in both cash and kind." Added Mrs. Lhamo.

The organizer is expecting a turn out of hundred and fifty thousand people for the five-day programme.

The organizers are Tibetan Women's Association, Centrex, Gu-Chu-Sum Movement for Tibet, Students for a free Tibet - India, U-Tsang Association Gangtok, Dotoe Association Gangtok, Domey Association Gangtok, Tibetan Youth Club Gangtok, Tibetan Women's Association Gangtok and Regional Tibetan Freedom Movement Gangtok.

Organising Secretaries / Media contact:

Mr. Karma Yougyal: +91 900 299 9545 (Gangtok number)

Mr. Tsering Choedup + 91 941 822 1605 (Himachal number)

Message from His Holiness the Dalai Lama

THE DALAI LAMA

MESSAGE

The Tibetan and Sikkimese peoples have had close relationship throughout history in the religious, cultural, social and political fields. The renowned Nyingma master, Terton Lhatsun Namka Jigme, played a significant role in the development of Nyingma tradition in Sikkim. The Great Fifth Dalai Lama and Terton Lhatsun Rinpoche were very close to each other.

I too have fond memories of my several visits to Sikkim. In particular, I have been deeply moved when undertaking pilgrimage to sacred sites like Tashiding and Pemayangtse.

Although all the major religious traditions flourish in Sikkim, Buddhism is its traditional religion and has contributed to the evolution of the Sikkimese identity. This Buddhist cultural heritage encourages the cultivation of such ideals as compassion, peace and non-violence, which have a role to play in the development of the Sikkimese society. Therefore, one way of getting benefit from this heritage and preserving it is to incorporate its message in the educational system.

I have been encouraging the Tibetan people, including those in Sikkim, to do the same with our common Buddhist cultural heritage. Today, the Tibetan refugees in Sikkim have settled down well and are making whatever small contribution they could towards the State's development and growth.

I am therefore pleased to send my greeting on the occasion of a Tibet Festival that is being held in Gangtok from November 6 to 10, 2009 by the Tibetan Community in Sikkim to express their gratitude to the state government and the people of Sikkim. It is befitting that this festival is being held to coincide with the 50 years of the Tibetan people's life in exile.

Tibetan community to celebrate 'Tibet Festival' in Sikkim

Gangtok, Nov 4 : The Tibetan community in Sikkim would host their maiden five day 'Tibet Festival' in Gangtok from November 6 on the occasion of the 50th year of ‘Tibetans in exile'.

The festival has been organised to acknowledge, honour and thank the government and people of India, especially the Himalayan State for providing a refuge to the Tibetan community.

It will be held at Kanchenjunga Shopping Complex, Lal Bazaar here, the organisers informed.

The festival would display the Tibetan culture, religion, Buddhist rituals, medicine and astrology, music and dance, costumes, art and craft, and cuisine.

''It expresses the preservation of Tibetan cultural identity that has been kept intact for the past 50 years. It would exhibit the spirit of Tibet in its original form,'' the committee added.

The Tibetan community expressed indebtedness to the XIV Dalai Lama ‘who has provided an unwavering and visionary leadership for all Tibetan people across the world for fifty years’.

The festival would be inaugurated by State PHE minister TT Bhutia.

The message of the Dalai Lama would be read out by Dhondup Dorjee, Tibetan Settlement Officer, Gangtok followed by a ‘Thank You India’ song by Thumi Sambhota Tibetan School and traditional dances by Ghangjong Doekar. A film on ‘undercover in Tibet-Channel 4’ and ‘What remains of us’ would also be screened on the first day. While the second day would feature a panel discussion on ‘Tibet’s Environment’ and a discourse on Buddhism in English. A settlement of the Tibetan community is at Rabongla in South Sikkim while a group have settled in Tshoka on the way to the Dzongri trek in West Sikkim.

Most of them are entrepreneurs while some of them have taken up jobs in the State government and organisations of the Union government.

--UNI http://www.newkerala.com/nkfullnews-1-144198.html