By R.M. CAMPBELL
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER CRITIC
The theme of the eighth annual Tibetan Festival this weekend at Seattle Center is “Spiritual Music and Dance.”
“We hope to bring an aura of peace and harmony to the Puget Sound area,” said festival producer Tenzin Choegyal. “Seattle Center is a magical place where people from all walks of life come to enjoy and experience different aspects of human culture. It’s ideal for TibetFest.” Choegyal, who has lived in Seattle for the past five years, is the nephew of the Dalai Lama and was raised in India.
Events will take place from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. tomorrow and Sunday at both the Center House and the Fisher Pavilion. In addition to music and dance and a photographic exhibition, there will be a traditional Tibetan-style bazaar offering arts and crafts, prayer flags, incense, clothing and rugs.
Among the participants is Nawang Khechog, a recording artist and former Buddhist monk. His Tibetan repertory, according to Choegyal, “resonates compassion and altruism.” His instruments include the Tibetan long horn, bamboo flute, cymbals, drums and bells. He will perform tomorrow afternoon at 1:45 and Sunday morning at 11:15, both at the Center House.
The San Francisco youth ensemble Semshug Pundha will perform traditional Tibetan dances tomorrow morning at 11:45. Tibetan chef Dekyi Thonden, who cooks at the Dahlia Lounge, will do demonstrations of Tibetan cooking, including vegetarian and meat dumplings, tomorrow and Sunday afternoon at 12:25. Both events are at the Center House.
Admission is free to all events. For more information the festival’s Web site is www.tibetaninwashington.com
