March 27, 2010 – Dharamsala
This beginning of the 15th Shoton festival, an annual celebration of Tibetan Opera (Lhamo), was blessed and inaugurated by His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje. The event opened at the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA) in Dharamsala on 27th March, 2010. His Holiness presided at the TIPA performance as the chief guest. From all over India and Nepal, Tibetan Opera associations from Tibetan communities came together to perform Tibetan dramatic arts. Through dramatic performances of song and choreographed dance, vibrant traditional Tibetan artistic practices were expressed.
In Tibet, Shoton is held annually from the end of the sixth month to the middle of the seventh month (according to the Tibetan Lunar calendar) and traditionally celebrates the coming of spring and a generous harvest
This year, the participating performance company will travel to six Tibetan Schools in the Dharamsala area, to introduce this historic Tibetan art and opera to the younger Tibetan generations. The school tour commences from Lower TCV on 29 March, 2010.
The Shoton will conclude on 6th April, 2010.
By Karma Phuntsok
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10 day Tibetan Shoton Festival
