By Maura Moynihan
New York, July 28, 2009 – At this year’s Tibet Fest 09, a Tibetan universe was reincarnated upon a verdant fairground in rural Connecticut. The 5 year old festival was conceived and created by Michelle Weik, who brought dancers, singers, painters, cooks, vendors, volunteers, friends and strangers together to celebrate Tibetan culture. The Tibet Fest website states: “In our tumultuous world, much can be learned from the gentle Tibetans and their peaceful culture. Their Buddhist philosophy exemplifies, most importantly—compassion and non-violence…It is vital that the world does not allow this precious culture to perish. Without our help, there will no longer be a Tibet to save”.
In a field encircled by wildflowers and Tibetan national flags, visitors were transported to Boudha, McLeod Ganj and old Lhasa, wandering amid stalls proferring thankas, kurtas, jewels and carpets, momos, chapatis and corn on the cob. Inside an antique barn Students for a Free Tibet, International Tibet Independence Movement, the Tibet Fund, Tibet Aid and more, erected information booths and distributed literature. Sonam Zoksang exhibited photographs from Tibet, as the Drepung Gomang monks created a sand Mandala.
For two days the sound stage filled with stars from the Tibetan music scene: Tenzin Choegyal, Tenzin Kunsel, Tenzin Ngawang, Tsering Dorjee Bawa, Lakedhen Shingsur, Pasang Dolma, Kesang Marstrand, the Dharma Bums, Phurbu T. Namgyal, Techung and percussionist Michael Tyabji. Tendor of SFT and Lobsang Sangye addressed the continuing persecution of the Tibetan people in Chinese-occupied Tibet, and Ngawang Sandrol related her ordeal of arrest and torture by Chinese authorities, for declaring her faith in the Dalai Lama and Tibetan independence.
After the conclusion of Sunday’s show, as TIPA stars led a rousing step dance, the Drepung Gomang monks dissolved the sand Mandala. Everyone then gathered the field, tsampa was passed from hand to hand, Techung and Tsering Dorjee Bawa sang the invocation to the gods, tsampa was tossed towards the heavens. Moments later, a pristine rainbow arose from the clouds and blessed the fairground. Michelle Weik, radiant in a red kurta and streams of kata scarves, stood smiling beneath the rainbow as it faded into rain.
While the people inside Tibet continue to suffer under Chinese Communist rule and corporations and government anxiously court Beijing’s party cadres, people like Michelle Weik and the volunteers of Tibet Fest give the Tibetan people a place to share their rich and varied culture with their American friends, which brings power and support to the Tibet movement. As rain fell across the fairground, guests dispersed and vans drove away, another rainbow appeared, a ray of hope, a sign of a Free Tibet.
