At ‘Spirit of Tibet’ festival, keeping culture and history alive – one word, artwork at a time

At the Spirit of Tibet festival, held at the India International Centre's Kamala Devi Centre, culture and history are being preserved through various mediums. Monks write names in Tibetan script, young women in traditional attire ask visitors to write messages for Tibet, and a 72-year-old refugee knits threads into a carpet. The three-day festival, which ends on Saturday, is a celebration of Tibet's cultural and spiritual ties with India, as well as a reminder of the need to preserve them.

Sikyong Penpa Tsering, head of the Central Tibetan Administration, spoke about China's Law on Ethnic Unity, which has led to the self-immolation of Tibetans, including the 52-year-old Lobga Rangzen who died outside the United Nations headquarters in New York. More than 170 Tibetans have self-immolated in protest over the years. The festival also highlights the preservation of Tibetan culture through calligraphy, art, traditional crafts, and educational games.

The Norbulingka Institute, founded in 1955, plays a significant role in preserving Tibetan identity through classical arts, crafts, and literature.