Over 1000 Tibetans living in and around Pokhara gathered at the City Hall for a gala evening of music and laughter to enjoy the seventh day of Losar ( Feb 24,2007) at a Live Concert by the heartthrob duo- Phurbu T. Namgyal and Tenzin Gyalpo (Micheal).
The event was organized by the TCV Alumni Pokhara Branch to raise funds for its Welfare schemes. Besides the two well known artistes, the four Tibetan schools in the valley sent Participants of grade V and below to compete in the first ever Individual Solo Song Contest.
As the spectators entered the Hall they were greeted by a photo exhibition of the recently Concluded “Global Family Holiday Pleasure” for nine of the TCV children spending time With their host families, trips to Lumbini, Chitwan National Park, Buddhist pilgrimage Places in Kathmandu, the world famous Taj Mahal at Agra and finally, sight seeing in Delhi.
Tulku Lobsang Jamyang of Shree Dhargyaling Monastery as the Chief Guest offered ‘butter Lamps’ to the portrait of H.H. The Dalai Lama. A huge laminated poster of ‘Ama la’ Jetsun Pema la with landmark shots of the various TCV School adorned the main stage.
Mr. Sangpo, President of TCV Alumni Pokhara Branch, welcomed the guest and read out the aims and objectives of the Association. The concert was a huge success as the audience gave a rousing reception to the Artistes and even joined them in a few of their songs. Tenzin Kunsang of SOS Hermann Gmeiner Primary School stood First in the Solo Competition.
Like wise, Tenzin Lhakyi of Lekshedh Tsal School and Tsering Choedon of Shree Manjushree School were jointly awarded the second position.
Towards the end, Mr. Sangpo gave a vote of thanks to the artistes and the audience for their overwhelming support to this Association. He also expressed gratitude to the generous donations received from the audience during the show.
In his brief speech he reiterated the TCV motto of “Others Before Self” and stressed the need to care and show empathy to-especially the children-who Deserve a better world. Offering traditional Tibetan scarves to all those who contributed in many different ways, he said that the “Dream Holiday” would have remained a mere dream without the whole hearted support from many Tibetan families and organizations. In particular, he applauded and appreciated the efforts of individual Host families of the Jampaling Tibetan Refugee Settlement and families of TCV ex-students and staff who gave the nine children a ‘Home far away from home’.
He also thanked the SOS Children’s Village Pokhara, SOS Hermann Gmeiner School Pokhara and The SOS Vocational Training Centre, all of whom helped the children in various ways to make their trip a memorable one. Prior to the departure of the nine children, in a moving gesture the Grade X students of SOS Hermann Gmeiner School Pokhara had organized a special day to be with their new friends and presenting with small gift as a token of goodwill.
The Live Concert event concluded with a dinner hosted at the Hotel Mount Annapurna attended by the two Artistes, special invitees and the Members of the Association.
