Indo-Tibetan Friendship Association in collaboration with Tibetan Settlement Office, Dharamshala host the 24th Himalayan Festival in commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the conferment of Nobel Peace Prize on His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Dharamshala: Indo-Tibetan Friendship Association, Dharamshala in collaboration with Tibetan Settlement Office, Dharamshala hosted the 24th Himalayan Festival in commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the conferment of Nobel Peace Prize on His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
The Himalayan festival is a joint initiative of the Indo-Tibetan Friendship Association and the Tibetan Settlement Office, Dharamshala. The festival was started in 1995 to commemorate the international recognition of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s peace initiatives with the prestigious Nobel Prize for peace on 10 December 1989. It is aimed at bringing different cultures and people across the Himalayas on a common forum, and foster understanding, appreciation, exchanges, and dialogue among the people of the region.
The 24th Himalayan Festival was inaugurated on 10 December by Chief Guest was Dr Lobsang Sangay, President Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), Guest of Honors was Mr Gyal P. Wangyal, Chairman/Chief Executive Councillor, Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Leh and other dignitaries such as Ven. Acharya Yeshi Phuntsok, Deputy Speaker, Tibetan Parliament and་Advisor, Indo-Tibetan Friendship Association Dharamshala and Mr. Onkar Singh Nehria, Deputy Mayor, Municipal Corporation and Members of TibetanParliament.
This year’s festival was hosted here in Dharamshala, at the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts, attracting scores of people from all parts of India. Indian troupes from five Indian States participated in the Festival along with Tibetan troupes from the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts. In total, the festival witnessed more than 33 cultural performances and exhibits.
The festival concluded on 11 December in the presence of Chief Guest was Mr Rakesh Pathania, MLA Nurpur and Former Executive Member of Indo-Tibetan Friendship Association Dharamshala and Mr Vishal Nehria, MLA Dharamshala, Guest of Honour Ven. Acharya Yeshi Phuntsok, Deputy Speaker and Advisor, Indo-Tibetan Friendship Association Dharamshala and Kalon Karma Yeshi, Minister, Department of Finance, CTA. Members of Tibetan parliament were present as well.
The festival was supported by Department of Home, Himachal Tourism Department, Mahindra, KTM and SJVN.
CTA President Dr Lobsang Sangay addressing the inaugural ceremony of the 24th Himalayan Festival.
Main organisers of the Festival, Mr Ajai Singh, President of Indo-Tibetan Friendship Association and Settlement Officer Kunga Tsering.
Chief guest, guest of honour and dignitaries at the closing ceremony of the 24th Himalayan Festival.
Tibetan dance troupes with the dignitaries.
