KALIMPONG,
May 3. - A group of 10 underprivileged children from the Indo-Tibet
Buddhist cultural Institute (ITBCI) are all set to realise
their dreams. They will visit France to attend the international
children's festival.
The first Tibetan school in India, ITBCI
was founded by Dhardo Rinponche on 10 December 1954, with
the objective of spreading Tibetan language and culture.
The school now boasts of introducing a cultural dance section
called Shes' Seng Zlos' gar (pronounced Sheysing Dio-gar),
meaning the Snow-lion cultural performing art.
The `Carrefour International-du the'atre d'enfants` (World
festival of Children) is organised by the Jeune Theatre International
in Valenciennes from 15 to 31 May.
The festival will also include other Asian
and European countries. According to Mr JK Bhutia, principal,
the meet is entirely non-commercial. The children, he said,
were being sent to the festival to represent Tibetan culture
and society through various items such as the `Lion, Yak and
the Dopa Dodrung (dance with drumbeats) dances`. Mr Bhutia
further revealed that this opportunity for the children was
made possible by an ex-student who is now settled in France.
He also said that this would be the first
time that students of the charity school would be taking part
in an international trip. Accommodation for all the children
has been fixed, with five French families having agreed to
accommodate two children each. `This is a good development
for Tibetan society here and for students of our school, who
will have an opportunity to meet and interact with people
of different cultures,` said principal Mr Bhutia.
Kesang Lepcha (12), a student of the school,
is among the ten visiting to France. When approached, she
said that she considered herself very lucky. She will be performing
the `Relpa Dance`, a devotional dance introduced in the 17th
century to popularise Buddhism in Tibet. The 10 children,
along with their principal and dance teacher, will be leaving
on 6 May.
Courtesy
The Telegraph |
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