Canberra: The Tibetan community of Victoria in Australia celebrated the 62nd anniversary of Tibetan Democracy Day on Saturday, 3 September, at Phoenix Park Community Centre in Melbourne.
The President of the Tibetan Community of Victoria, Palden Dhondup, delivered a welcome remark and presented a brief report on the community. This was followed by the presentation of the community account statement by Treasurer Rinzin Palmo.
The chief guest of the occasion, Representative Karma, read out the statement of Kashag on the occasion and spoke about the importance of Tibetan association abroad and its role in maintaining unity among the members and nurturing the young Tibetans with a sense of Tibetan identity and culture.
Tenzin Phunsok Doring, who was invited as the guest of honour, delivered the statement of the Tibetan Parliament in exile and spoke on the significance of Tibetan democracy day and the importance of engaging the younger generation in the Tibetan struggle.
Traditional rituals involving incense offering and recitation of prayers for the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama was performed followed by the singing of Tibetan and Australian anthems and also Tibetan Democracy song by the children of Tibetan weekend school.
The event concluded with the offering of traditional Tibetan scarves (Khatags) to the teachers who are voluntarily serving in the Tibetan weekend school by the chief guest, Representative Karma Singey, and the offering of Khatags to the recently arrived Tibetans from India by the guest of honor Tenzin Phuntsok Doring.
On 4 September, Representative Karma Singey and Tibetan Parliamentarian Tenzin Phuntsok Doring visited the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion at Bendigo where they were welcomed by the chairman of the Great Stupa, Ian Green, and the Director of Atisha Centre Ven. Gyaltsen Dondrup, and were escorted on a tour of the interfaith peace park, inside the Great Stupa, and the location for the establishment of a library. The Tibetan delegates also visited the nearby monastery, where they were greeted by Geshe Rabten.
It may be recalled that His Holiness the Dalai Lama visited Bendigo in 2007 and blessed The Great Stupa. The Stupa is 50 meters square and 50 meters high, making it the largest stupa in the Western World. It is a replica of the Great Stupa of Gyantse in Tibet.
Executive members of the Tibetan Community of Victoria with Representative Karma Singey and Tibetan Parliamentarian Tenzin Phuntsok Doring
Students of Victoria Tibetan weekend school singing Democracy song.
Representative Karma Singey and MP Tenzin Phuntsok Doring are being welcomed by the chairman of the Great Stupa Universal Ian Green, and the Director and Director of Atisha Centre Ven Gyaltsen Dondrup
Ian Green, chairman of the Great Stupa explaining about design and size to Representative Karma and Parliamentarian Tenzin Phuntsok Doring.
Stupa’s chairman Ian Green escorting Representative Karma Singey and Parliamentarian Tenzin Phuntsok Doring on a tour inside the Great Stupa
Tibet section inside the Great Stupa.