Tibet Museum Successfully Concludes Photo Exhibition in Himalayan Regions of IndiaTuesday, 28 July 2009, 4:31 p.m.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama on his arrival at Tabo Monastery on 14 July 2009/Photos:Tibet Museum

Dharamshala: “50 Years in Exile,” an exhibition arranged by the Tibet Museum of the Central Tibetan Administration, traveled throughout northern India from the 6th through the 23rd of July.  A team of people from the Tibet Museum arranged the show in 10 different venues from Ladakh to Himachal Pradesh.Large turnouts across the board welcomed the Tibet Museum team who set up the show in each place.  The exhibition included a selection of images from the Himalayan region and “Compassion in Exile,” a film dubbed in Hindi that brought tears to many viewers’ eyes.  Not only did it mark the fiftieth anniversary of the Tibetans in exile, but it aimed to strengthen the religious and cultural bond between the Tibetans and people of Himalayan region.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama visits photo exhibition on 50 years of Tibetans in exile organised at Tabo on 14 July 2009

Leh was the first to receive the exhibition, which opened on the 6th of July at the Himalayan Buddhist Cultural Association, complementing the birthday celebration for His Holiness the Dalai Lama.  More than 5,000 people attended the event, where speeches were followed by cultural folk dances from different regions of Ladakh, performances by Lamdron School and TCV Leh, and a procession carrying a portrait of His Holiness the Dalai Lama from Zangdok Palri Stupa to Phodrang Shiwatsel.The next stop, Kaza, coincided with His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s visit to the the Tenggyud Monastery, the 10th through the 12th of July.  The exhibition attracted huge flow of people, who rushed to line up after a day of His Holiness’ teaching as if they were standing in queue to receive a blessing from an enlightened person.

Visitors go through photos on fifty years of Tibetans in exile at Kaza on 9 July 2009

Following His Holiness, who spent much of his time in teachings, the team arrived in Tabo on the 14th.  More than 5000 devotees came to receive his Pratityasamutpad (Interdependence) teaching at Tabo Thekchen Monastery, after which he visited the Serkong School of Tabo Monastery.  Many of the students, teachers, and staff also went to the evening screening of the film, which had over 350 people attending.  The next day, 46 km away in Nakoh, over half of its 900 citizens attended a a 7:30 p.m. screening, which was followed by a song composed by TIPA entitled “Thank You India.”  The Tibet Museum team was received by Shri. Kunsang Ram, Secretary, Hangrang Buddhist Culture Committee, Shmt. Vimala Devi, Pradhan, Mahila Mandal.

From right: Mr Jigme Tsering, head of Tibet Museum receives Mr.Chhering Dorjey, CEC, LAHDC (C) and Mr Bhuchung Tashi, Chief Representative of the Central Tibetan Administration, Leh, Ladakh, during an exhibition at Kaza on 9 July 2009

Pooh, a village with a two hour walk to the Indo-Tibetan border, was the next to receive “50 Years in Exile” on the 17th.  Held at a local monastery complex, many turned up to see it, including the Army General of Northern Division and the Commandant of Pooh.  During the evening show, Mr.Sushil Sana, Gram Pradhan expressed the sentiments of his people and ensured that the people of Pooh village will always be prepare to do anything that would serve the Tibetan cause.  The team was received by Shri. Sushil Sana, Gram Pradhan, Gram Panchayat, Ven. Lama Sushil Deva and Shmt. Ishwar Devi, Mahila Pradhan, Mahila Mandal.  Again the evening film was an emotional success when it next stopped in Jangi on the 18th on its way to Rekong Peo.  Much of the older population in this 500 person village was so touched by the film that they were in tears.  The team stopped in this small village due to a request by a resident, Shri.Roshan Lal Negi, a scholar on Indo-Tibet literature and Buddhist Philosophy as well as some-time translator for the Dalai Lama when deep in Himachal Pradesh. 

Visitors during the photo exhibition at Leh Ladakah on 6 July 2009

The exhibition then made its way to Ram Lila Maidan in the Kinnaur District headquarters of Rekong Peo on July 20th.  Here the team was assisted by Lama Jamphel from Choskhorling Bodsewa, Mr. Sang Ratan Negi from Mahabodhi Society of India in Peo.  Even the Deputy Commissioner, Ms. Ingty and Assistant Commissioner, Mr. Harbans Singh had been cooperative in issuing the permission to hold the exhibition on quick notice.The screening was such a success in Sangla, where it arrived on the 21st, that audience members requested to show other films made about Tibet, leaving the team with no other option but to announce that they “may hold this program next year.”  Slowly but surely, one family after another had arrived at the event, and by the time the film was shown, the crowd was just enormous.  The Tibet Museum team was received by the Women’s Association of Sangla, a town whose Buddhist temple His Holiness had inaugurated in 2006.On 22nd July 2009, the team then departed for Shimla, the capital of Himachal Pradesh and returned to Dharamshala on 23rd July 2009.More pictures:

Local people of Rekong Peo visit photo exhibition on fifty years of Tibetans in exile

Local people of Sangla visit photo exhibition on fifty years of Tibetans in exile

An official of Tibet Museum explains photos on fifty years of Tibetans in exile during an exhibition at Nakoh on 16 July 2009

General of Northen Division of Indian Army and the Commandant of Pooh Unit being introduced about the exhibition on Tibet. Lama Sushil is also seen in the picture