Himalayan fest off to colourful start
Tribune News Service
Dharamsala, December 10
The 20th International Himalayan Festival that is being jointly organised by the state Tourism Department, Indo-Tibetan Friendship Society and the Central Tibetan Administration got off to a colourful start at McLeodganj today.
Local gaddis and Tibetan artistes enthralled the audience on the occasion. The festival was started in 1995 to commemorate the conferment of Nobel Peace Prize to spiritual leader the Dalai Lama.
The festival was aimed at bringing different cultures and people across the Himalayas on a common forum, and foster understanding, appreciation, exchanges and dialogue among people of the region.
Minister for Urban Development Sudhir Sharma who represents the Dharamsala Assembly constituency was scheduled to inaugurate the festival. Since leader of Tibetan people, Sikyong, did not turn up, Lobsang Sangay and Kangra Additional District Magistrate Balbir Thakur inaugurated the festival. The festival would showcase the culture of Tibet and HP.
On the inaugural day, artistes from the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA), the premier institute of Tibetan dance, arts and theatre, presented colourful dance performances, traditional Tibetan dances and Bhratnatyam.
Besides, a local cultural troupe presented the traditional Gaddi dance.
This year’s festival includes cultural dance troupes and exhibitions from various places in Himachal Pradesh, including Kullu, Mandi and Kangra districts.
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