On Saturday 3rd July more than 230 people joined together at the Petrie Park Community Hall in the Melbourne suburb of Montmorency to celebrate World Tibet Day and His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Birthday.
Mr Tenzin Phuntsok Atisha from the Tibet Information Office in Canberra travelled to Melbourne for the event and with the Tibetan Community of Victoria welcomed members of the sangha, MPs, representatives of the local council, and the hundreds of people of all ages, many who had travelled from regional areas, to join the celebrations.
In keeping with the tradition of World Tibet Day of celebrating the unique beauty of Tibetan thought and culture, the event began with the chanting of a short mandala offering and long life prayer to His Holiness by the Gyoto Chant Master Ven. Lobsang Tendar and Ven. Kunchok Rigzin from the Dro-phen Ling Buddhist Centre. This was followed by a longer version of the long life prayer whilst members of the sangha and other audience paid homage to His Holiness.
In a spirit of great humility and compassion, guest speakers, including Mr Tenzin Phuntsok Atisha, the Hon. Carolyn Hirsh MP and member of the Victorian Parliamentary Friends of Tibet Group and Rachael Hanrahan, representing Banyule City Council, spoke of the great importance of keeping the Tibetan traditions alive and acknowledging the ongoing struggle of the Tibetan people whose very survival is seriously threatened at this time. The Hon. Carolyn Hirsh spoke on behalf of the other 15 members of the Victorian Parliamentary Friends of Tibet Group and emphasised the very strong commitment they have to raising awareness of the Tibetan cause.
Throughout the event, guests were entertained by Nima Tashi and Dawa Dolma, former artists at the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts in India, and solo Tibetan artist, Tenzin Choegyal. Local Tibetan children performed a special series of songs and dances before guests were invited to partake of a Tibetan luncheon feast, prepared over many hours by the Victorian Tibetan Community.
In closing the event, President of the Victorian Tibetan Community, Sandup Tsering, acknowledged and thanked the hundreds of groups and individuals who had all worked together to ensure that the World Tibet Day celebration, in honour of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s birthday, would achieve what it set out to do.
Without hesitation, everyone who attended, and many who were unable to but sent their good wishes, would agree that it was a huge success and have taken with them, as a gift of the day, not only a greater understanding of the Tibetan people and their ongoing struggle to keep their culture alive, but a deeper understanding of the Tibetan ability to share their culture and religion in a spirit of great happiness.
Sandup Tsering,
President,
Tibetan Community of Victoria, Australia
Ph: 0011 61 3 9557 9745
