Dharamsala, August 11 – Emotions ran high among contestants, armrests on the chairs of the audience were tightly held, and a few even covered their ears as the results of the 2009 inter house musical contest of the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts, an institute as old as the Tibetan exile, was being announced.
The all-attention- pulling musical contest between the two houses, Gyallu and Ngonpa, was attended among others by Ms. Manika Jain, director of the liaison office of the external affairs ministry here, as the chief guest, who gave away the prizes. With wins in three out of four categories, Gyallu rukhag (house) emerged the winner of 2009 inter house Yarkyi musical contest, much to the dismay of Ngonpa rukhag who trailed behind with not much points.
The only government run institute of the exile Tibetan community that was founded as the Tibetan Drama Party and now known as TIPA (Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts) turned 50 today. The day was marked with golden jubilee celebrations that included a glittering ceremony this morning and the musical contest for which the two houses are said to have practiced with vigor for about two months.
A grand reception to His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s portrait by the institute’s director Wangchuk Phasur began the celebrations earlier this morning as the monks of Namgyal monastery played ceremonial pipe for the procession from His Holiness’ suite (read Tib:phodrang -Palace) in the institute to the congregation hall.
Presiding over as the chief guest at the function was Ven. Tsering Phuntsok, minister for religion and culture of the exile Tibetan government. Representatives of the three pillars of the exile Tibetan democracy were also present at the function that was attended by around 100 special guests. The Tibetan minister in his address to the gathering appreciated the works in promotion of Tibetan performing arts by the institute and advised the members and students to continue the preservation of the unique cultural heritage of Tibet.
The institute’s administration puts special emphasis on this year’s celebrations as the institute’s director Wangchuk Phasur puts it, “it also marks other important events, 50 years of His Holiness’ coming in exile followed by around 80000 Tibetans and 50 years of India’s hospitality and rehabilitation for the Tibetan refugees.”
We mark this day to thank the government and people of India for standing by us for fifty years, and that too at a time when we needed help the most, Wangchuk added.
A film documenting the institute’s progress over the years since its inception on August 11, 1959 was also screened for the guests who watched it with great interest.
“We started making this film more than a year ago and I am overwhelmed to know how His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who was then just about 24 years old, guided our elders in starting this institute for the preservation of the Tibetan performing culture,” said the institute’s secretary Tenzin Lhaksam, who had worked with others on the film.
