Connecticut Tibetfest 2 -- 2006

CONNECTICUT TIBETFEST 2! 2006



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To start off, Tibet fest is simply wonderful. I highly recommend the event! It is much different event this year than last year. Apparently each year may have its own special flavor. Since the event is only two years young in Connecticut, I have no way to tell just yet.

There are some notes to keep in mind if you are a person of time and schedule. One thing I should remember from last year is that Tibetan time differs from how I view time. The gates open at 10 and the performances start at 11 a.m. according to the brochure. What time the festival actually starts at I don't actually recall. I forget to ask the time somewhere after 12:30. I am not complaining about the festival mind you, I am complaining about myself. I did not remember to sleep longer. I did use this extra time to look around at all the booths of food, art and merchandise.

The scheduling of events is also interesting this year. The brochure of who goes on when is apparently a theory that does not hold up. There is no telling what is happening next on stage. This year it does not matter, since the event itself is much simpler and smaller with not a lot going on at the same time. There is a disappointment for me at the festival too. The monks from the college do not appear this year. Apparently they are not on tour so I could not squeeze in another one of those special classes they offer. I am also looking forward to the multi-phonic singing experience of last year which do not occur this year. Last year, one of the performers also chants multi-phonically. He also is not present this year with his spectacular rock and roll performance on folk instruments . I am consoled by one of the organizers who tells me gently that the monks may be back for Tibetfest 3.

THE FOOD

This year, I reverse my decision on the food. Last year, my first bowl of mushy noodles ends my culinary explorations of the day. To be fair, it was towards the end of the day before I did have a bite last year. I decide it is far better to start a spontaneous fast than do that again. This year, I am with someone who offers me a nibble. All the food I try is quite wonderful! A first mishap is trying a cup of butter tea. "Yak butter tea?" I ask the merchant with a smile. He laughs hard and says something very sweet about how nice that would be. This tea is made with butter and salt added, he explains to us smiling quite wonderfully the whole time. I only have a sip to say "I tried it." My companion is the lucky purchaser of the tea and almost refuses to drink any tea at all after that due to taste bud trauma. Perhaps this is an acquired taste. I am convinced to try a nip or two of the food. The noodles and dumplings are well flavored, nicely spiced, and not at all mushy like last year. The shredded salad with cilantro, additionally flavored with toasted sesame oil is a treat too. Convinced to try the chai tea when it becomes colder in the evening, partially lured by the sweet spicy smell in the air, the butter tea experience fades into past memories (almost for some). What a pleasant surprise! Perhaps last year, my first choice of food is simply unfortunate.

THE MUSIC


For such a small event, the music is quite surprising. Performances go on all day and include such names as Phurbu and Ravenna. Tenzin Kunsel is an excellent 11-year-old Tibetan singer from New York City. Pepa Tsering introduces and plays many different folk instruments. He completely surprises us with a Tibetan rap song he writes performing it complete with the parody of hip-hop dance moves in his traditional boots. To me that is the performance of the day! It is a song dedicated to the animals in Tibet who are now being hunted, not just for food, but simply for sport. Every singer, has something very special to offer with each song containing a teaching, introduced with history, or presenting a folk instrument.


The event is small enough for everyone to mingle. We are introduced to a little singer who sits at our table. On stage she is best described as a beautiful, smiling performer! The people are very friendly with children beaming their bright smiles everywhere. I find people much more outgoing at this smaller event than last year.


Loten sits at our table for a little while too. Singing bowls are for sale at the fest, and several of them can be heard between sets resonating in the background. Loten is plays sever instruments I have not seen before and also a singing bowl. I must say, I sincerely love the way he dresses and looks! If I had a police line up to pick out the "real thing," I am quite sure he is my pick based just on looks alone. On stage, he explains he performs by feeling the audience, singing and playing inspirationally. None of his music is planned ahead of time. He laughs deeply like a great Santa Clause in his songs. Lots of the Tibetan music seems to have the "great laugh."


All the singers gather at the end of the festival to sing their special prayer. The audience stands and sings along with them with their hands in the prayer position too. Dadon is among them, a known Tibetan singer from the '80's who escapes Tibet over the mountains when she is five months pregnant. She apparently tries to perform a political song in the home country prior to her escape, getting her deeply into difficulties. She is currently on a come-back for performing and is in the tiger striped dress with the red shawl. Techung is back this year too. He is also a well known performer.

TRADITION!

Thanks to the small festival this year, I actually get a chance to catch the traditional dances! Last year, I missed them every single time. Pretty ladies dance while tapping long sticks in a rhythm making their own music beat.


If you are a person who travels with their dog, this festival is an event for both of you. There are lots of dogs all over the grounds. I met a large, soft, smiling creature called a Tibetan Mastiff. Other less Tibetan dogs are in attendance too.


I enjoy strolling the booths to see all the objects for sal. I spot a highly decorated conch "horn" sold along with some jewelry and other artifacts. Many of the items for sale at the fest are antiques. A person can spend the better part of the day asking what everything is and its history. Merchants take the time to blow the horns, play the instruments, demonstrate the singing bowls and talk about their merchandise.


A merchant demonstrates and explains how to use some beautiful prayer wheels on display placed in the cup amidst all the merchandise. They are turned clockwise "counting" the prayer inside on each turn. We don't really understand that, but they are lovely to look at. I am thinking, "I can look it up later," as the demonstration goes on.


A single monk makes a sand Mandela this year. At least I think he is a single monk. (Wink.) The Sand Mandela construction is by Lama Tenzin Legmon. Fun enough, for the younger crowd, there is an arts and crafts booth to make a sand on glue Mandela for something a little more permanent.


My favorite photo of the day is a monk crossing the grounds. Except for the background, the posture of this walk across the grounds strikes me as timeless. I imagine the staff is there in his hand instead of that little pen.


I also find various displays in the building. One speaks about the Dzogchen teachings of Chogyal Namkhai Norbu, Rinpoche in Conway Massachusetts. Although I did not get to meet her, I am told a traditional Tibetan medicine doctor, Dr. Phuntsog Wangmo, is also attending the show. She resides in Northampton Massachusetts (a great town in my opinion). She also has a monthly series the third Friday of every month for a $15 suggested donation. I would go if these were local to me!

SOMETHING NEW... SOMETHING OLD

The festival day is filled with old and new. I don't have the knowledge to know exactly what is old and new, but my eye tells me that lots of the Tibetans definitely "mix it up." Is that Johnny Dep?


My pick of the day for jewelry is a strand of little skulls... in case I forget about "impermanence." It brings out that non-existent pirate in me. Although I believe these are based on an old idea and design, the work strikes could be new. I forget to ask. Still, I really like them. They would go great with my Halloween costume and other spooky events. If I owned my own company, I would wear them to the board room. Wait... I do own my own company. I just don't have a board room or a board.


Lots of other old and new can be seen. Singers are in the traditional dress and braids with have their sound boxes peeking through at back. So many local Connecticut Tibetans performed too.


Salt lamps, said to change the ions in the air for good health are for sale. They are not traditional as far as I know. I do appreciate their soft glow. Other non-traditional offerings include Italian ices for the food, Coke and other sodas for sale, local artists selling wares with natural or spiritual emphasis. A clam chowder bread bowl is tasty and familiar treat. We are unable to find a real cup of coffee though.


We got to see "a little" action soccer and some other less traditional sports. There is a little something for everything and everyone. There are other "great fun" moments at the Tibet Fest. It is a great day for all ages, with some of the younger people having lots of room to run and play around. There is a pond full of turtles, and lots of children gathering for soccer and Frisbee.


The day is a wonderful, sunny one. There is a lot more than I mention here going on at the fest. If you ever get a chance to attend, I would say to try it! A good time was had by all... as far as I know.