“We are currently in a pivotal juncture in history. We are a country with a long history and a culture on the verge of extinction. To protect our culture, we need your help, the international community’s help. Our culture is one of the world’s cultural treasures. Protecting an ancient tradition like this is the responsibility of the entire world community, not just the concerned nation.” – His Holiness The 14th Dalai Lama is the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet.
Significance of TIPA
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama founded the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts as one of the first cultural institutes in exile, India. The institute was founded on August 11, 1959.
The Tibetan Musical History and Arts Institute in Dharamshala work to preserve and develop Tibetan musical and artistic heritage. Every year, the Yarkyi cultural festival is held to highlight Tibetan cultural and theatrical art as part of this endeavor.
TIPA commemorated 62 years of excellence in the preservation and promotion of Tibetan arts and culture in exile at this year’s Yarkyi festival. TIPA members were treated to a two-hour spectacle of traditional songs, dance, and theatre.
Yarkyi Festival Celebration
As a result, the Yarkyi Festival is held to promote Tibetan art and emphasise the rich vibrance of Tibetan musical history among the general public. The festival takes place once a year and commemorates TIPA’s founding anniversary.
This festival takes place during the summer and was founded on August 11, 1959, in Kalimpong. It’s an internal tournament between Ngonpa and Gyalu, with people from both houses competing. These residences are named after two well-known Tibetan opera and dance characters. The folk dances of Tibet are studied by both groups separately. Later, they each compose a solo and a group song that they must perform during the competition.
The Legacy of Yarkyi Festival
The Yarkyi Festival at TIPA in 2019 commemorated the 60th anniversary of promoting and preserving exceptional Tibetan arts and culture in exile. The competition lasted two hours and featured cultural songs, Tibetan opera, theatre, and dance performances. Yarkyi Festival was held in the year 2020 as a year of gratitude for His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. The 2020 Yarkyi Festival was celebrated to honor His Holiness’ promotion of human values, humanitarian assistance, and commitment to Tibet’s people and cultural interests.
Yarkyi Festival 2021
Intending to conserve and promote Tibetan traditional folk music and performing arts, Our annual Tibetan Festival programme is the Annual Yarkyi Festival is held, in which our artists will split into two groups and be given a month to create two new songs and two new traditional/folk dances. Without the assistance of tutors, the artist will research, write, create, and choreograph the songs and dances. They will also need to create new costumes if necessary. Approximately 50 artists are now on the roster.
Tibetan musical history and arts have gained substantial momentum and international attention in recent years. We would love your presence virtually and contributions towards TIPA’s glory in celebration of Tibetan Festivals.
