Tibetans Celebrate His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Culture at Norwich FestivalFriday, 16 October 2009, 2:15 p.m.
Tibetan youngsters dance Thursday, 15 October 2009 during the Tibetan festival at the American Legion in Norwich. Khoi Ton/Norwich Bulletin(10-15-2009) |
Dharamshala: On
Thursday night, about 200 Tibetans, most from Montville and Norwich,
but some from as far as Boston and New York, held a dinner and cultural
performances at the American Legion Hall on Laurel Hill Avenue in
Norwich, US, Norwich Bulletin reported.The event was in
honour of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s recent receipt of the Medal of
Freedom from the United States and of Tibetan culture, which organisers
say has found a home in Eastern Connecticut.“We want to let the
world know we have our own culture,” said Sammy Kunga, 40, one of the
event organisers who lives in Norwich and works at Mohegan Sun.
“Culture is our identity.”Kalsang Namgyal, 21, of Uncasville,
followed a typical path among Tibetans in Eastern Connecticut. At age
6, his parents fled with him to India because of persecution in China.
He attended school in India until 2008, when he moved to the region to
live with his mother, who was already working here. He now works at
Foxwoods Resort Casino.Phuntsok Jampa, who also lives in
Norwich and works at Mohegan Sun, helped organise the celebration. At
the front of the dining hall, a portrait of His Holiness the Dalai Lama
rested on a throne that Jampa said local Tibetans built.The festivities included Tibetan food, dance and music, with many of the attendees dressed in traditional Tibetan garb.Kung
said the celebration made him appreciate even more the First Amendment.
In China, he said Tibetans are dominated by fear imposed by the Chinese
government. Here, he said, he enjoys freedom.