by Ben Tsui
Calgary, Alberta (Canada), July 4: Globalized communication and open source dialog are essential tools to bring Tibetans and their Buddhist creed to the mainstream. To ensure its survival, innovative technologies must be applied to keep up with today’s evolving modern world. So, what’s more appropriate than to launch a new online community website to honor the Dalai Lama’s 74th birthday?
On Saturday, July 4th, the Tibetan Association of Alberta (TAA) in Calgary did just that. As usual, the community began with traditional morning prayer offerings for the good health and long life His Holiness. By the evening, jubilant revelers were fed with a festive vegetarian pot luck buffet. Tibetan youth musicians, singers and dancers also entertained the attendees at the Strathcona Community Centre.
As an auspicious mid-summer rain storm lightly sprinkled outside, TAA President Tashi Phuntsok and his colleague Dolma Dejikhangsar unveiled the recently designed website (http://www.albertatibetan.org) to the audience. On a large projection screen, both took turns to explain the various components of this online entity.
As indicated on its homepage, “The TAA serves as a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the rich ancient culture and traditions of Tibet, and within the Tibetan community in Alberta. The TAA is also committed to promoting human rights and democracy for Tibetans in Tibet. In today’s increasingly diverse and multicultural Canadian society, the TAA works to build a spirit of co-operation and harmony among people of different cultures, and with the community-at-large.”
The site also encouraged everyone to attend the upcoming public talk and convention with His Holiness in person later this September.
Links to the Tibetan Government, Tibet support groups, news sources, upcoming community events, as well as a direct link to Phayul.com news portal, were demonstrated onscreen. Along with future photo and video galleries, there was also a dedicated page to Calgary’s Gangchen Rigney Zinkyong Tibetan School. This local educational initiative provided instructions in Tibetan reading, writing and language classes. It also conducts lessons in traditional Tibetan folk songs and dances, as well as such Tibetan musical instruments like Dranyen (lute), Flute, Piwang and Yangjin.
Two oversized decorated birthday cakes were later served to everyone. Tibetan children of all ages were delighted as several explosive fire sparkle sticks were lit on the cakes. Overall, this year’s Dalai Lama birthday hoedown was quite special. It was celebrated in superb high tech style.
Long live His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama!
