His Holiness the Dalai Lama gestures as he attends fire ritual (havan) being conducted by Hindu priests for his continued well-being and long life at the Main Tibetan Temple in Dharamsala, India, Tuesday, June 15, 2010. The prayer ceremony is part a day-long event organised by the local Indian community of McLeod Ganj to celebrate “50 years of friendship” with Tibetan exiles. (Photo by David Huang)

Dharamsala, June 15: Exiled Tibetan leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama Tuesday attended a celebratory function marking “fifty years of friendship and understanding” among Indians and Tibetans here in this north Indian hill town.

As part of the celebration Hindu priests conducted a fire ritual (havan) and prayer chanting ceremony in the presence of His Holiness the Dalai Lama for his continued well-being and long life.

Senior officials of the Central Tibetan Administration, members of the organising committee of the event and hundreds of Tibetans, Indians and visiting tourists participated in the event held at the courtyard of the Main Tibetan Temple (Tsuglag khang) here.

“We chanted and offered prayers for the well-being and long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. And also in our puja we offered prayers for the happiness, success and well-being of Tibetans here and all over the world,” said Swami Ananda Ji, the leader of the priests.

The day-long event, which also included offering free community meal in traditional Indian style to the public, was organised by six organisations representing the Indian community of McLeod Ganj, also called Upper Dharamsala.

Meal was also offered to His Holiness the Dalai Lama and, officials of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) and Indian dignitaries at the Tsuglagkhang (Main Tibetan Temple) courtyard here.

The event was jointly organised by Indo-Tibet Friendship Society (ITFS), Hotel Association, Beopar Mandal, Bagsu Taxi Union, Auto Union, and Trekkers Association of McLeod Ganj.

In his opening speech, Mr Ajay Sing Mankotia, President of ITFS, described the event as “a celebration of 50 years of togetherness” for Indians and Tibetans in Dharamsala and elsewhere in Himachal Pradesh and India.

“This celebration is an expression of gratitude to His Holiness the Dalai lama and to show that that we are blessed by his presence here,” Mr Mankotia said.
Mr Mankotia said Dalai Lama’s guidance and blessing enabled people from both the communities to live and prosper together in harmony and peacefully for the last 50 years.

“Your Holiness’ presence here for the last 50 years has not only helped us to grow together, but also helped Dharamsala to prosper spiritually. This has given Dharamsala the sanctity it enjoys now,” he said.

The exiled Tibetan leader thanked the organisers and the people of the town for the puja and the event.

In his speech, the Dalai Lama reminded the Tibetans to continue to preserve and uphold the values that define the Tibetan people and their culture.

“In embracing modernity and progress, we must not abandon the human values that has been so preciously passed down on to us by our elder generations. These values make up our unique culture,” the Dalai Lama said.

“It is these spiritual values that are so ingrained in our culture and in our way of life that make us special and loved by the outside world, and if we are to abandon these values, then it will be a very disheartening situation,” the Tibetan leader said.

The Dalai Lama has been living in McLeod Ganj, a hill-top town in the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, since 1960, following Chinese occupation of Tibet and a failed 1959 uprising against the Chinese rule over it.

In April, Tibetan exiles organised a two-day event here called “Thank You Himachal” to thank the people and the government of the state on the 50th anniversary of the Dalai Lama’s arrival in Mcleod Ganj.

The Dalai Lama arrived here in April 1960, a year after entering India, to shift from his temporary base in Mussoorie in the present-day Uttarakhand state. Since then Dharmsala has served as the base for the Tibetan Government-in-Exile.

Little over 35,000 Tibetans live in Dharamsala and 14 different Tibetan settlements across the hill state.

23-year old Tenzin Norzom walks the stage after being crowned Kingfisher Miss Tibet 2010 at the beauty pageant’s grand finale night in Dharamsala, India, Sunday, June 6, 2010. (Photo: Tenzin Choejor/Exilelens.com)

Dharamsala, June 6: 23-year old Tenzin Norzom from Varanasi was crowned Kingfisher Miss Tibet 2010 at the beauty pageant’s grand finale night here this evening.

“I am extremely happy winning the Miss Tibet 2010 crown,” Norzom told Phayul.com after winning the title.

“Even if I didn’t win the Miss Tibet crown tonight, I came prepared in my mind that one of us will win in the end and I would still be happy thinking that after all it is another young Tibetan woman who is the winner,” she said.

She said one of her first mission would be to urge young confident Tibetan women to participate in the Miss Tibet beauty pageant.

And then the most important thing, she said, will be to use the beauty title to promote awareness on Tibet.

“Right now my top priority will be to complete my further studies,” she said.

Born in Hunsur Tibetan settlement in South India, in 1986, this soft-spoken beauty queen has just completed Shastri degree (equivalent to Bachelor of Arts degree) from the Central University of Tibetan Studies in Varanasi. She is fluent in English, Tibetan and Hindi, and likes reading, music and dancing, and playing badminton.

Last year’s Miss Tibet Tenzin Choezom crowned Norzom as the new Tibetan beauty queen and presented a scholarship cheque of 100,000 rupees.

A panel of two judges elected the new winner. Norzom edged out three other contenders after going through seven rounds of competitions to claim this year’s Tibetan beauty title, the ninth in a series started since 2002.

Yangchen Metok, 19, from Dharamsala, was declared the first runner-up and won a scholarship cheque of 50,000 rupees. She was born in Golok in Amdo province of Tibet in 1991 and came to India in 2008.

The four contestants pose during the ‘Traditional Costume’ round on the grand finale night of the Miss Tibet beauty pageant at Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA) in Dharamsala, India (Photo: Tenzin Choejor/exilelens.com)

Rinchen Choden, 25, a hair stylist with a Bachelor in Commerce degree from Bangalore was the second runner-up and won a scholarship cheque of 25,000 rupees.

The organisers also presented the third runner-up, 22-year old Tenzin Namchoe, a scholarship cheque of 10,000 rupees. Presently she is a second-year student at St Joseph College Bangalore, pursuing a Bachelors of Social Work.

The beauty pageant’s finale night this year has been a low profile one without the usual firecrackers. This, the beauty pageant’s director Mr Lobsang Wangyal said, was in solidarity with the victims and survivors of the recent earthquake in Tibet’s Kyegudo region. Before the final rounds of the beauty pageant kicked off, a huge crowd of thousands of people, who gathered for the show, participated in a short prayer session for the earthquake victims.

Mr Wangyal later announced a donation cheque of 10,000 rupees towards the earthquake relief measures.

Also the annual Free Spirit Award for 2010, which is presented by Lobsang Wangyal Productions for those who have contributed for the Tibetan cause and world peace, was given to Dr Mahesh Yadav. Dr Yadav has been a staunch Tibet supporter for years. He has drawn blood portraits of world leaders, including His Holiness the Dalai Lama of Tibet, to bring awareness about world peace and freedom in Tibet.

Dharamsala, June 5: First phase of a three-day Miss Tibet beauty pageant competition kickstarted with a swimsuit round at a local swimming pool here yesterday afternoon.

(from L to R) Yangchen Metok, 19, from Dharamsala, Tenzin Norzom 23, from Varanasi, Rinchen Choden, 25, from Bangalore, Tenzin Namchoe, 22, from Bangalore pose during swimsuit round at Funky Town in Dharamsala, India, Friday, June 4, 2010. The four contenders will vie for this year’s Tibetan beauty title to be decided on the ‘Grand Finale’ night on June 6. (Photo: Exile Lens)

The competition started with four contestants performing a ramp show in swimwear around a mini swimming pool located at a picturesque local on the lap of Dhauladhar mountain range.

The participants contested for 40 points judged by two jury members 10 points each for their figure, skin, posture and poise.

A large public enthusiasts turned up to watch, what has been described by many in the exile Tibetan community as the “most daring” part of the beauty pageant.

A strong media presence, however, dominated the scene of the competition round.

Scores from six more competition rounds in the next two days will add up to decide the final crowning of this year’s Tibetan beauty on the grand finale night on Sunday at the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA).

Two more rounds – “Presentation and Talent” – will be held tonight at TIPA.

This year’s pageant is officially called Kingfisher Miss Tibet Pageant 2010, as KF is the sponsor of the pageant.

Meet the Miss Tibet contestants

Rinchen Choden – Born in Tawang in north eastern India in 1985, she is a hair stylist with a Bachelor of Commerce degree.

She speaks English, Hindi, Tibetan, Tamil and Kanada, and likes reading, swimming and shopping.

She has many goals in life, but says “we can only stick to a single goal and aim for it”. By winning Miss Tibet, she says will empower her to do something for Tibeta and her people. Aspiring to become a top model, she says, has been her childhood dream.

Tenzin Norzom – Born in Hunsur Tibetan settlement in South India, in 1986, this 23-year old beauty has just completed Shastri degree (equivalent to Bachelor of Arts degree) from the Central University of Tibetan Studies in Varanasi.

She is fluent in English, Tibetan and Hindi, and likes reading, music and dancing, and playing badminton.

She says her immediate goal is to win this year’s Miss Tibet crown and be the messenger of the Tibetan freedom movement to the people of the world. Her second goal is to boost confidence in the younger generation Tibetan girls to participate in this Miss Tibet contest and prove to the world that “we Tibetans can do it.”

Tenzin Namchoe – Born in the Tibetan capital Lhasa in 1988, she came to India in the year 2000. Presently she is a second-year student at St Joseph College Bangalore, pursuing a Bachelors of Social Work.

She speaks Tibetan, Chinese, English, Hindi, and reading, helping others, playing piano and dancing her hobbies.

After completing her studies she wants to commit her life to social work in Tibetan community and help Tibetan youths to find purpose in their lives.

She wants to commit her life to social work in the Tibetan community after completing her studies.

Yangchen Metok – She was born in Golok in Amdo province of Tibet in 1991 and came to India only recently.

She studied till class VIII in her native place and is currently studying English language at a local local institute. She speaks Tibetan and Chinese and likes singing and dancing.

Once I become proficient in English language, I would like to become an air hostess, she says. To contribute as much as she can for the Tibetan cause, and find ways to work for the betterment of the lives of poor people, she says her longterm goals.

For images of the contestants, Click Here