Mainpat Tibetan Settlement, Chattisgarh, India
Events at MainpatLike all other Tibetan settlements in India, Mainpat too comes through a lot of events through out the year. The most popular annual event is the birthday celebration of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama which falls on July 6. On July 6, every year, each camp performs traditional Tibetan dance. Kids from Central Schools, Creches and even from local Indian schools give their performance for the day. For two days (July 6 and 7), people would gather at camp 1 and enjoy various games and activites. There would be volley-ball matches, cricket matches and other sport events. There would be evening shows too. Sometimes the youngsters of the settlement would perform modern songs and drama during evening show. The other popular events in the settlment is the Tibetan New Year which normally falls in the month of February or March. Kids would play with the crackers (which is in fact is not a nice thing but still...), there would be family visits, picnics and parties at every house and a lot of other fun moments. Sometimes the youngsters would organise discos for their late-night fun if they get the required permission from the respective authorities. People would play games, cards and traditional tibetan dice game known as SHO-PARA. Some elder people enjoy famous game such as MAH-JONG. But above all the events, the most colourful and busiest event would be the visit of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama in the settlement. This event doesn't come so often but whenever it happens, people of the settlements would consider it the most important day and would celebrate it with a lot of enthusiasm. People would come to listen to his speech and teachings. His Holiness would then pay visits to the camps and then there would be a blessing ceremony which Tibetan people consider very spiritual. Apart from these events, there are many other annual events such as Mangtso Duechen (Tibetan Democracy day, September 2), Dhruk-Pe-Tshe-Shee(4th day of 6th month according to Tibetan Calander), Lhabab Duechen, Parents Day, Children's Day, School's Sports Day, Indian Republic Day (January 26), Indian Independence Day (August 15) and others. Some other events such as concerts and performances from Tibetan singers/musicians and comedians had been very popular among the Tibetan people. Marriage ceremonies at the settlment are done with all the efforts and thus it's always considered as a wonderful event. Although Mainpat Settlement is a quiet with very down-to-earth people but they do have a good sense of recreation and enjoyment. |