Dalai Lama's Birthday: Young Tibetans Pay Tribute To Dalai Lama Through Art
New Delhi: From a colourful portrait of the Dalai Lama embracing children to scenes depicting his joyful childhood amidst blooming nature, or celebrating his life, an ongoing art exhibition by young artists honour the Tibetan spiritual leader in their own unique ways.
Inaugurated on Friday at the India International Centre, the art exhibition is titled "Dear Kundan", borrowed from a term affectionately used by Tibetans worldwide to address the 14th Dalai Lama.
The exhibition features 90 artworks created by young Tibetans from across the globe, celebrating the Dalai Lama’s 90th birth anniversary and his message of kindness and peace.
Organised in collaboration with the Foundation for Universal Responsibility of His Holiness the Dalai Lama (FURHHDL) and Khadhok, a Tibetan Artists Collective, the exhibition showcases a curated selection from over 700 submissions by children across India, Nepal, Europe, North America, and Australia.
The creative prompt for the young artists was simple yet profound: “What does His Holiness mean to you?” "We were contemplating in what ways we can honour the Dalai Lama, if you have met him, you’ll realize he has an incredible, child-like quality that beautifully contrasts with his profound wisdom and gravitas. We spoke with a nonprofit group in Dharamshala that literally reached out to hundreds of young Tibetan children worldwide, inviting them to share their drawings and artwork.
"These pieces express their feelings and heartfelt greetings to the Dalai Lama. The resulting images have been deeply moving --they capture both the pure innocence and the powerful emotional depth that adults often struggle to convey. We’ve been truly overwhelmed by the response," Rajiv Mehrotra of FURHHDL told PTI.
Born on July 6, 1935, into a farming family in what is now Qinghai province, the Dalai Lama fled to India in 1959 with a large group of Tibetans after the Chinese military under the command of Communist Party founder Mao Zedong took over Tibet.
Since then, he made Dharamshala his "adopted" home. Today, he is regarded as one of the world’s most influential spiritual leaders, with a global following that extends far beyond the Buddhist community. In 1989, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his unwavering commitment to peace, compassion, and nonviolence.
Many of the drawings and sketches in the exhibition offer viewers a glimpse into the life of the Dalai Lama -- from his birth and early years, to his departure from Tibet, his achievements, and his efforts in establishing schools, monasteries, and a full-fledged Tibetan government-in-exile in India.
Celebrated writer Namita Gokhale, who was also chief guest on the occasion, said it's "both a joy and a blessing" to be present amidst these beautiful paintings.
"I’ve worked extensively with children’s books and the ways young minds express themselves. And today, standing in the middle of these 90 paintings from around the world truly feels like a blessing. The openness and sincerity with which these young artists view His Holiness -- not just as a godly figure, but as a friend they can trust and share laughter with -- is deeply moving. I’m overjoyed to be here," she added.
In addition to the exhibition, the inauguration ceremony featured a traditional 'Tashi Sholpa' dance performed by children from the Tibetan Children’s Village School -- offered as a heartfelt cultural tribute in reverence to His Holiness.
"Dear Kundun" will come to a close on July 15.
(Disclaimer: This report has been published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. Apart from the headline, no editing has been done in the copy by ABP Live.)
lifestyle