TIPA Celebrates 46th Anniversary
Gyalu performing a song dedicated to His Holiness the Dalai Lama |
Dharamshala 28 May 2005: The Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts celebrated its 46th year of inception yesterday amid much fanfare and jubilation. The institute’s annual Yarki (Summer Festival) usually coinciding with its founding anniversary of 11 August is marked with awesome performance of Tibetan culture during the competition between the archrivals Gyalu and Ngonpa, the two performing troupes of the institute. The grand finale of the competition between the two was held yesterday.
The two troupes performed in front of an exclusive audience which comprised of Tibetan Chief Justice Commissioner Namgyal Tsering and the justice commissioners Lobsang Khedup and Anyetsang Thupten Tashi, members of the working committee of the Assembly of the Tibetan People’s Deputies, officials of the Central Tibetan Administration, representatives of the various non-governmental organisations, schools and institutions.
Gracing the occasion as the chief guest was former Kalon Tripa Sonam Topgyal who said that the institute was one of the foremost establishments started by His Holiness the Dalai Lama for the conservation of the Tibetan culture. Yarki often becomes the source of learning new cultural performances for the various Tibetan schools, organisations and institutes in India, Nepal and Bhutan.
Ngonpa has won it for ten consecutive years, and this year everyone including the artistes themselves was of the view that Gyalu would break the decade – long deadlock. Gyalu won the solo and group song categories while Ngonpa won both the dance categories. But the victors were again the mighty Ngonpas who incidentally represent the institute’s official logo. The stage filled with a roar of jubilation and celebration from the Ngonpa artistes who managed to lead Gyalu by just a few points. “We gave a very good performance and so did they. The competition was very narrow and the rest is mathematical”, said Tenzin Kalsang, the captain of Gyalu troupe.
The 2005 annual cultural contest between the two ended in a rare emotional blend of tears and cheers on both sides making it one of the few competitions where everyone leaves the field victorious.