Tibet Festival in India’s IT Capital Kicks Off
Sunday, 22 November 2009, 6:23 p.m.
Bangalore: A three-day festival showcasing different aspects of Tibet’s unique cultural heritage preserved in its pristine form by Tibetans in exile has begun this morning in Bangalore city, the Silicon Valley of India.
The inaugural day began with a Buddhist chanting by a group of monks from Palden Tashi Gomang monastery and a Thank You India song by schoolchildren of Bylakuppe Tibetan Children’s Village.
Mr Narendra Babu, Member of Legislative Assembly of Karnataka state, opened the event, which is being organised to pay gratitude to the people and government of India for supporting Tibetans in exile for the last five decades.
Photo exhibitions on Tibet’s journey in exile, Tibetan handicrafts, thangka (scroll) paintings and organic produces from Tibetan agricultural settlements, free medical service by traditional Tibetan doctors, Tibetan cuisines and documentary films on Tibet attracted a large number of Indian visitors and some foreign tourists.
I was inspired and thrilled to visit the Tibet festival taking into consideration my long association with the Tibetan people, said Narendra Babu, whose family has donated a land in Bangalore to Tibetans on which a vocational training centre for Tibetan youths has been set up.
Describing the people of Tibet as innocent, simple and peaceful, with a unique civilization of 2,500 years, Mr Narendra said some aggressive forces tried to invade Tibet in the past.
He strongly urged the peace loving nations to rise up against the Chinese government’s repression and inhumane treatment of Tibetans living inside Tibet.
He expressed his deep concern over the strong military build up in Tibet.
India wholeheartedly sympathise and support the people of Tibet, and we are all with you till Tibet gets freedom, Mr Narendra said.
In her welcome address, Kalon Kesang Y Takla, minister for the Department of Information and International Relations, said Tibetans in exile felt honoured and privileged to be able to preserve their culture and Buddhist religion in India, which shares long cultural and religious ties with the people of Tibet.
Kalon Takla expressed Tibetan people’s deep gratitude to India for its generous support and giving the opportunity to preserve and continue Tibet’s Buddhist culture of compassion, love and non-violence.
Kalon Takla presented a statue of Buddha as a souvenir to Mr Narendra Babu.
Mr Kunga Dorjee, the chief representative of Tibetans in south India, thanked all the Indian friends and Tibetan participants of the three-day Tibet festival.
