Dharamsala, September 24 – The most beautiful women of Tibet will soon descend on Himalayan town of Dharamsala which is hosting the second Miss Tibet beauty pageant starting October 8.
Miss Tibet would be crowned on October 12, after a five-day glittering ceremony, which includes swimsuit round, photo-session and music awards.
Dharamsala is the headquarters of the exiled Tibetan government. As part of the cultural heritage promotion, organisers have planned to take the contestants to the Tibetan institutes and monasteries in India and teach them Buddhism and yoga.
Organisers say the pageant seeks to revive the culture and tradition of Tibetans.
The Tibetan government-in-exile last year had boycotted the event, saying such contests were against the principle and ethics of Tibetan Buddhism.
Lobsang Wangyal, organiser of the event, defended the event saying such pageants help in evolving Tibetan culture. “Miss Tibet pageant I don’t feel is against Tibetan culture nor it is undermining Tibetan philosophical values. We go according to our culture and our philosphical values. But Tibetan culture cannot be static. It has to evolve, it has to go according to time. So I think Miss Tibet pageant is good in many ways,” Wangyal said on Wednesday. Traditional Tibetans disapprove of the public display of women. Most women in the conservative Tibetan society wear ankle-length skirts and long-sleeved blouses.
Some elders including the spiritual leader the Dalai Lama have supported the contest and said it would bring youngsters close to modern world and boost confidence of Tibetan girls.
Yeshi Phuntshok, a Tibetan monk, said such events provide a platform for Tibetan cause.
“I can say that seeing the present Tibetan situation every platform is important for the present cause. Last time also I mentioned that we have to go through the global state. But with our own tradition and to build up the platform, Tibet’s culture and history should be there,” said Phuntshok.ore than 150,000 Tibetans have taken refuge in India since 1959 when the Dalai Lama and his followers fled their homeland, after an abortive uprising against China.
A model agency worker from Delhi was last year’s first Miss Tibet.
