By Karan Shah

KALIMPONG, May 3 — A group of 10 underprivileged children from the Indo-Tibet Buddhist cultural Institute (ITBCI) are all set to realise their dreams. They will visit France to attend the international children’s festival.

The first Tibetan school in India, ITBCI was founded by Dhardo Rinponche on 10 December 1954, with the objective of spreading Tibetan language and culture.

The school now boasts of introducing a cultural dance section called “Shes’ Seng Zlos’ gar” (pronounced Sheysing Dio-gar), meaning the Snow-lion cultural performing art.
The “Carrefour International-du the’atre d’enfants” (World festival of Children) is organised by the Jeune Theatre International in Valenciennes from 15 to 31 May.

The festival will also include other Asian and European countries. According to Mr JK Bhutia, principal, the meet is entirely non-commercial. The children, he said, were being sent to the festival to represent Tibetan culture and society through various items such as the “Lion, Yak and the Dopa Dodrung (dance with drumbeats) dances”. Mr Bhutia further revealed that this opportunity for the children was made possible by an ex-student who is now settled in France.

He also said that this would be the first time that students of the charity school would be taking part in an international trip. Accommodation for all the children has been fixed, with five French families having agreed to accommodate two children each. “This is a good development for Tibetan society here and for students of our school, who will have an opportunity to meet and interact with people of different cultures,” said principal Mr Bhutia.

Kesang Lepcha (12), a student of the school, is among the ten visiting to France. When approached, she said that she considered herself very lucky. She will be performing the “Relpa Dance”, a devotional dance introduced in the 17th century to popularise Buddhism in Tibet.

The 10 children, along with their principal and dance teacher, will be leaving on 6 May.