Tibet Fest will celebrate its 14th annual event this weekend, Aug. 22-23. The festival will be held at the Seattle Center, in the Center House and on the Fisher Roof, and will showcase multiple diverse acts in honor of the Tibetan culture and tradition of their people. The event, free to everyone, begins at noon on both days, ending at 5:30 p.m.
"The goal of the festival is to seek support for the cause in Tibet," says Tashi Namgyal, president of the Tibetan Association of Washington. The festival began as a global way to commemorate the anniversary of the 50 years in exile the Tibetan people have endured. In 1949, the Chinese government invaded Tibet, a so-called liberation from foreign imperialism. Listed on the Tibet Association of Washington's website:
"The invasion was condemned in the United Nations General Assembly in 1959, 1961 and 1965. In the spring of 1959, when a Tibetan uprising in Lhasa was crushed, forcing the flight of the 14th Dalai Lama and 80,000 Tibetans to India, where they remain as refugees today."
"Immediately our hope is to have visitors understand the Tibetan cultural tradition, and more importantly the plight and suffering the people of Tibet have faced. They should have a feeling on how they can help preserve the traditions," says Namgyal.
What visitors can expect to see is a glimpse of the Tibetan culture and rich traditions. The Tibetan Toronto Cultural Dance group, winner of the 2008 North American Tibetan Cultural, will perform throughout both days and are the featured performance. Movies will be shown that will emphasize the adversity the people are facing inside Tibet. One such film, "Leaving Fear Behind," was produced and directed by Dhondup Wangchen. The video chronicles the thoughts and protests the people of Tibet brought against the Chinese government during the Olympic games in Beijing. Wangchen is currently being held in prison in China, charged with inciting separatism. Amnesty International has revealed that his lawyers have been dismissed from representing him, creating the perception that Wangchen is being subjected to an unfair trial.
Another film to be featured is "Dalai Lama Renaissance," narrated by Harrison Ford, which details the teachings and lectures by the Dalai Lama, and forty of the world's premier thinkers.
During the two-day festival visitors can purchase goods made by Tibetan people. A photo exhibition from the Tibet Museum will also be on display through Aug. 23. Children are welcome and can expect a host of educational information in the Children's Corner, discussing ideas from both east and west. Visitors can participate in Gorshey, known as the circle dance with local Tibetans.
There are approximately 300 Tibetans in the Seattle area, diversely living in the surrounding areas. Another goal of the Tibet Fest is to show Seattle a slice of the diverse communities in Washington state. The event will strive to build awareness through the communities.
"Not a religious issue, but compassion, kindness and a good heart is pretty much prevalent in every aspect of the Tibetan lifestyle, and when they [visitors] attend the event, my hope is they get a sense of how the Tibetan people perceive things and how they challenge those difficulties through the feeling of oneness," explains Namgyal regarding the purpose of Tibet Fest 2009.
For more information on the event visit washingtontibet.org.
MATTHEW THOMPSON is a student in the University of Washington Department of Communication News Laboratory.[[In-content Ad]]
