Kushinagar: Bharat Tibbat Samvad Manch – Tibet Support Group under its Regional convener Dr Shublal Shah, ITCO Coordinator Mr Jigmey Tsultrim, Ven. Kunchok Tenkyong, Namgyal Monastery, Kushinagar in the presence of Kushinagar MLA Shri Rajnikanth Mani Tripathi, had laid a program during His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama’s 86th Birth Anniversary at Kushinagar that a cultural program on Tibet must be initiated in Kushinagar to inform the Indian people, particularly the youth about the uniqueness of Tibetan culture which is under the threat of Communist China. 

Going with the said program, Bharat Tibbat Samvad Manch, in coordination with India Tibet Coordination Office, Delhi organised a “Cultural Program on Tibet” on the occasion of the 97th Birth Anniversary of Bharat Ratna late Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who was the former Prime Minister of India and a Tibet Supporter at Buddha PG College, Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh in the evening of 25th Dec. 2021. 

The Chief Guest during the program was Shri Vijay Kumar Dubey, Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Kushinagar; Special Guest Shri Rajnikant Mani Tripathi, MLA Kushinagar; Guest of Honor Ven. Kunchok Tenkyong, Head Lama. Namgyal Monastery, Kushinagar; Dr Daya Shankar Tripathi, former Principal, Buddha PG College, Dr C. S. Singh, Head of Maths Deptt, Dr Ashish Yadav, Pranth Adhyaksh, Sanskar Bharti; Dr C. P. Gupta, Most Senior Medical Surgeon; Dr Anil Sinha, Zila Adhyaksh, Sanskar Bharti, Kushinagar and the Representatives of Sri Lanka, Thailand and Korea; and Ven. Mahendra Bante were among the distinguished guests.

The guests were welcomed from the entry gate to the stage by the artists of Gangjong Doeghar, a Tibetan Performing Arts Group based in Kalimpong, West Bengal, who had travelled to the sacred Buddhist pilgrimage town of Kushinagar, where Lord Buddha attained parinirvana to showcase the rich and vibrant culture of Tibet.

The program began with the lighting of the lamp by the guests, followed by the offering of Khatak – a sacred white scarf to the portraits of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and Bharat Ratna late Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

ITCO Coordinator Mr Jigmey Tsultrim introduced and highlighted the objectives of the program.

The artists of Gangjong Doeghar performed many of its performances with different types of Tibetan songs and dances to the much amazement of the audience. The main attraction of their performance was the snow lion dance which was very much liked by all. 

The cultural program also witnessed performances from the artists of Sanskar Bharti, Kushinagar. It was, in all, a blend of Tibetan and Indian art performances showing the age-old sacred relationships between India and Tibet.

MP Shri Vijay Kumar Dubey appreciated the cultural performances of the artists and wished them the best in their every endeavour. Particularly mentioning the Tibetan artists, Shri Dubey said that it is excellent that Tibetans have kept their culture alive in spite of being out of their homeland, which he described as commendable and, at the same, important for a community to do so.

MLA Shri Rajnikant Mani Tripathi said that more such programs should be held in Kushinagar so that this can spread the Tibetan culture all around and create awareness among the general people on Tibet.

The cultural program concluded with the singing of Tibetan and Indian national anthems.

Apart from the distinguished guests, Tibet Support Group members, the staff and students of Buddha PG College, Kushinagar, and the general public were there to enjoy the cultural program.

The master of ceremony for the program was done by Shri Raj Kumar Madhesi and Ms Vandhana.

-Filed by India Tibet Coordination Office (ITCO)