(TibetanReview.net, Jan28, 2015) – A festival of Tibet was held in the Australian city of Brisbane from Jan 19 to 25. Dedicated to Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, for his upcoming 80th birthday, the 7th annual edition of the festival highlighted Tibetan culture through concerts, exhibitions, panel discussions and workshops.
The festival also raised funds for the Tibetan Children’s Village schools community in India whose longtime head and board Chair Mrs Jetsun Pema was a special guest. She featured in a ‘Tibet – My Story’ programme at the festival.
Earlier, the festival opened with a concert titled ‘Prayers for Peace’ performed by Deva Premal and Miten before an audience of some 400.
The workshops featured Tibetan calligraphy, thangka painting, Tibetan folk dance, momo preparation and what was described as chakra healing.
Mr Lhakpa Tshoko, the exile Tibetan administration’s Canberra-based Dalai Lama representative for Australasia, took part in a panel discussion on ‘The Dalai Lama’s Legacy’.
Geshe Tashi Tsering presented a session on ‘Finding Happiness in Troubled Times’. And the Australia Tibet Council organized a programme featuring young Tibetans in Australia who shared their stories of loss, courage and hope.
A ‘Beyond Optimism’ event featured real-time painting by Karma Phuntsok, poetry in Tibetan and Chinese, and a collaborative musical score coordinated by the Festival Director Mr Tenzin Choegyal.
The festival concluded with a ‘Mystical Tibet’ concert, featuring Tibetan chants, folk dances and songs.
(Based on a Tibet.net report Jan 27 by Ms Jenni)