The seventh annual Festival of Tibet recently held in Brisbane, Australia, was a resounding success. Running this year from Monday 19th until Sunday 25th January, the Festival offered something for everyone and was well attended by the wider community. Enthusiastic audiences enjoy varied and engaging experiences that showcased the rich Tibetan culture through concerts, exhibitions, panel discussions and workshops. The Festival also raised funds for the Tibetan refugee community with all proceeds going to the Tibetan Children’s Village schools in India. This year the Festival was also dedicated to His Holiness the Dalai Lama in honour of his 80th Birthday.
The festival commenced with an opening concert ‘Prayers for Peace’, featuring the popular and much loved international artist duo, Deva Premal and Miten. They performed ancient Sanskrit mantras and songs of the spirit offered in support of the people of Tibet in a magical and uplifting evening of inner peace and bliss enjoyed by some 400 people in attendance.
Visitors to the festival started each day refreshed and energized with a clear and alert mind by engaging in popular morning sessions on meditation and yoga. Entertaining and informative workshops on Tibetan calligraphy, thangka painting, Tibetan folk dance, momo preparation and chakra healing were organised. Throughout the Festival, mandala master Lama Khedup created a beautiful sand mandala, culminating in the spiritually charged dissolution ceremony on the final day. The Festival exhibition also featured contemporary Tibetan art by master painter Karma Phuntsok. Although traditionally trained, Karma also applies a range of innovative techniques and materials in his work, creating unique and dynamic expressions of contemporary Buddhist Art.
A special guest at the Festival was ‘Mother of Tibet’ Ama Jetsun Pema, who spoke about her extraordinary personal journey at a special forum ‘Tibet – My Story’. The evening offered a heart-warming experience enjoyed by a sold out auditorium full of smiles, laughter, and some tears of joy as well. Members of the Tibetan Community were delighted to perform song and dance for Ama la, with the evening finishing with the singing of the Tibetan and Australian national anthems.
Another special guest at the festival was Mr Lhakpa Tshoko, His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Representative in Australasia, who took part in a panel discussion ‘The Dalai Lama’s Legacy’ on the impact and legacy of His Holiness and his thoughts for the future. He also provided a highly informative introduction to the documentary film ‘Compassion in Exile’, explaining the history of the Tibetan struggle to the audience in attendance. The film presents an intimate portrait of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and his unwavering efforts to bring attention to the plight of his people – a fitting way to acknowledge his 80th year.
Other informative discussions included Geshe Tashi Tsering’s presentation of the session ‘Finding Happiness in Troubled Times’, speaking on ways of achieving peace of mind and come to terms with life’s inherent suffering. The ‘Our Tibet Story’ session presented by the Australia Tibet Council provided an opportunity for attendees to hear about the experiences of young Tibetans in Australia, who shared their stories of loss, courage and hope.
Another moving and well-received evening show was ‘Beyond Optimism’, which presented a feast for the eyes, ears and intellect. The performance featured real-time painting by Karma Phuntsok, emotionally resonant performance poetry in Tibetan and Chinese, and a collaborative score coordinated by Festival Director Tenzin Choegyal featuring some of Brisbane’s finest musicians.
The ‘Mystical Tibet’ concert was the perfect way to end the festival performance program. A combination of Tibetan chants, beautiful folk dances and song created a perfect musical potion that was elegant and heart-warming. The collaboration between Camerata of St John’s, Queensland’s acclaimed professional chamber orchestra, and Tenzin Choegyal represented a truly elegant and ground-breaking fusion of traditions that was extraordinarily well received. The evening perfectly captured the soul of Tibetan nomadic music and elevated it to even greater heights through sensitive and innovative interpretations. An especially touching portion of the evening much enjoyed by the packed audience was the song ‘Heart Strings’ from Tenzin Choegyal’s latest album, which was accompanied by a video clip with the kids of Tibetan Children’s Villages India, Mustang and Nepal.
The 2015 Festival of Tibet was surely a celebration of the resilience and optimism of a people and culture under threat, exhibiting the marvellous Tibetan cultural traditions being practised by the Australian Tibetan communities. The Festival additionally demonstrated the compassion and support of the broader Australian communities in support of the Tibetan people.
Report filed by : Ms. Jenni, a volunteer at the Festival Of Tibet, Brisbane.
