Guwahati: Tibetan spiritual leader in exile Dalai Lama arrived in Guwahati on Saturday to grace the five-day ‘Festival of Tibetan Art and Culture’ being held in this northeastern city for the first time. The festival begins tomorrow and will continue till February 6 next.
He was given a rousing welcome at Guwahati airport where he arrived at around 11 A.M.
The district administration here has made special security arrangement for the Tibetan leader.
He is addressing an exclusive gathering of his followers at the Ravindra Bhawan auditorium in the city on Saturday afternoon.
The festival of Tibetan art and culture that is being held at Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra will celebrate the unique culture and traditions of Tibetans living in India in exile.
Dalai Lama who had once passed through this city in 1959 after his escape from Tibet via the Khenzimani Pass in Arunachal Pradesh.
The Tibetan Prime Minister in exile Lobsang Sangay will grace the Closing ceremony on February 6.
Organisers of the festival informed that visitors could witness Tibetan traditional Thangka paintings being drawn by Tibetan artists, enjoy Tibetan cuisine, watch monks create Sand Mandala and butter sculpture, see Tibetan woodcarving art and also buy traditional Tibetan handicraft products made by Tibetan refugees.
“During the five days, visitors can be part of a unique experience – one that will leave a lasting impression in their minds about the beauty and the sheer magic of Tibetan culture. Through this festival, the organizers hope to bring Tibet closer to the minds of the people of the northeast including the Assamese people. It is a great way of sharing the Buddhist culture and tradition with the people of the northeastern states, and also a wonderful way to build a lasting friendship with our brothers and sisters from the northeast,” said Prema Khandu, chairman of the organizing committee and minister for Tourism in Arunachal Pradesh government.
Dalai Lama will also visit Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya, for the first time. He will be present in the picturesque hill city during February 3-5 and will be accompanied by the Sikyong (Prime Minister) of the Tibetan Government in Exile, Lobsang Sangay.
