Wisconsin Celebrate
Tibetan Culture[Tuesday, 14
September 2010, 9:15 a.m.]
Dharamshala:
The Wisconsin Tibetan Association and the University of Wisconsin’s
Center for South Asia co-sponsored the annual Tibet festival to foster
appreciation of Tibetan culture with the Wisconsin public from 10 – 12
September.The festivities kicked off with prayers by Buddhist
monks for peace and justice for Tibet.While opening the
three-day event, Center for South Asia Director Mark Kenoyer commended
the festival for its celebration of Tibetan culture, The Badger
Herald reported.“We look forward to the next three days of
the Tibet festival,” Kenoyer said. “I spread the word around as much as I
can and we should continue to do this and make sure a lot of people see
it.”Mayor Dave Cieslewicz also attended the opening of the
festival, praising the Tibetan community for their efforts to preserve
their culture. He was honoured by Kenoyer with traditional white Tibetan
scarf for his attendance and help to the Tibetan community.“I’ve
had a couple of opportunities to meet His Holiness the Dalai Lama and
each time I’m honoured to be presented with these scarves,” Cieslewicz
said.Madison flies the Tibet flag each time His Holiness the
Dalai Lama visits both to honour him and to express support and
closeness to the Tibetan community here in Madison, he said.Cleslewicz
expressed hope that the Tibet festival contributes to Madison’s
strength and diversity as a community.“On behalf of the entire
community of Madison I’d like to thank you for honouring our community
and for this wonderful festival which I hope will contribute to a
greater understanding of this culture,”he added.Children from
the Tibetan Language School also performed with song and dance. Cieslewicz
was then escorted to officially open the exhibition room, featuring
Tibetan history, culture and religion, traditional Tibetan food,
costumes and handicrafts, books and medicine. There was also a lecture
series and film screening on Tibet related issues.
