Happy 76th Birthday to His Holiness the Dalai Lama In the land encircled by snow mountains You are the source of all happiness and good; All powerful Chenrezig, Tenzin Gyatso, Please remain until samsara ends. PRAYER FOR THE LONG LIFE OF HIS HOLINESS THE DALAI LAMA (abbreviated version)
By Sabrina
“I would like to add one general comment to the travelers’ tales. We, Tibetans love a show or a ceremony, whether it be religious or secular, and we love all ceremonial and elegant dress,” says His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama in his Memoir My Land & My People. So, on July 6, take your best clothes out of your backpack, get all dressed up, and head out for a celebration! It’s the 76th birthday of His Holiness, and scores of Tibetans living in Dharamsala will gather at the main Buddhist temple, Tsugalgkhang, to pray for the long life and health of their esteemed spiritual leader. Born in 1935 in a small village called Taktser in Northeastern Tibet, Lhamo Thondup was recognized as the reincarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama at the age of two. In Dharamsala, special prayer sessions will be held at the main Tsuglagkhang temple complex where members of the Tibetan Parliament and the government-in-exile will participate. At 6:30 the birthday celebration will start with an early morning prayer, Incense offering called
Sang-sol, and hoisting of Lungta, the Fortune Flags. The opening ceremony of the function will be held by the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA). “At 9:45 we will reach there [TIPA] with 20 junior artists and open the ceremony while the Cabinet Members take their seats. We march through the temple while playing flutes. Then follows the Tibetan National Anthem,” says Lobsang Santen, Artistic Director at TIPA. The necessary preparations have been in progress since four weeks before the ceremony. Artists at TIPA will participate in the cultural program as well. During the show, school children and professional artists from local Indian and Tibetan communities will perform musical plays and cultural dances. This celebration is not only meant for the locals, Tibetan Online TV will communicate the life of the celebration through the internet and cable television. The celebration will be missing one very imporant component though...His Holiness the Dalai Lama himself! His Holiness will be in Washington DC that day, sharing his wisdom with the many Americans who hope to share their
IndependenceDay celebrations with HisHoliness. In Washington, His Holiness will offer a Kalachakra for World Peace (ritual empowerment) in the U.S. capital including preparatory teachings from July 6th through the 16th. This will be the first time that TIPA participates in a birthday ceremony for His Holiness in a foreign country. Twenty senior artists will travel to Wasington to perform a folk dance (dance from the “Roof of the World”) and a Tibetan opera. Tibetan communities-in-exile, the vast majority of India, and groups who support the Tibetan cause will celebrate this day all over the world. “But Chinese law makes it impossible for his followers in Tibet and Nepal to share in the festivities,” says Tenzin Norgyal, an employee of the Center for Tibetan Human Rights and Democracy. These days people may face grave consequences if they publicly celebrate the Dalai Lama’s birthday. Tibetans in Tibet cannot openly pray for the Dalai Lama’s long life or burn incense to mark His Holiness’s birthday; nor can they carry or display a photograph of him without fear of reprisals.
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July 2011
Through the Eyes of a Nomad By Samuel Ivor Having spent three months volunteering in McLeod Ganj, researching the Tibetan refugee situation for my university degree, I decided I needed a different perspective on the Tibetan community-in-exile. I wanted to know what it was like for the receiving community living in and around McLeod Ganj. By following one of the popular local trekking routes with my guide and translator Lalu, and with a rucksack full of food and water, we set off to live life through the eyes of local Gaddi Nomads. The Gaddi are nomadic shepherds, who populate the foothills surrounding Dharamshala, the exiled home of His Holiness the Dalai Lama since 1960. They are the original inhabitants of the area. They have watched over centuries as the region’s inhabitants have changed; from the arrival of the Aryan race, the rise and fall of the British Empire, to now, the arrival of the Tibetan community-in-exile. The three-day trek is possible to tourists through many of the local outdoor companies dotted around town.
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I wanted to know what the Gaddi thought of the changes to the town below, the Tibetans, and the daily challenges they face - as well as attempt to live as they did for just a few days to better understand their situation. Having split the load in two, and filled up on supplies, the first day of the trek consisted largely of covering a great distance up the beautiful winding mountain paths. The impressive Dhauladhars range stood menacingly to our right as we ascended though pine forests. Upon arrival at each Gaddi village we were given what felt like hundreds of cups of chai tea by the generous people working the farms. The coming summer monsoon meant that everyone was busy and carefully tending to the corn fields; which were cut out of the steep mountainside in short steps in order to grow on a flat surface. When I had covered the same route in March, the mountainsides had been covered in lushgreen barley fields and were flecked with snow. We reached Kareri village late in the
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evening. It is a permanent Gaddi settlement that overlooks Tibet Children’s Village. In the distance I could see the white peaks of the main temple roof. While many of the men are up in the mountains with their herds living a semi-nomadic life, those that are left work the fields, and most of their children are educated at the local Government school. We ate in the attic room belonging to a Gaddi friend of Lalu. Perched above the cowshed, we were served delicious crushed nettles thick with butter, as well as dal, and rice with milk curd. It tasted great after such a long hike; and I watched, exhausted, as the wife of the house threw chapatti bread into the fire to bake it in the hot ash. Every slice threw up hot clouds of dust and ash. To me the meal tasted better than any restaurant food I had eaten in McLeod Ganj, and the atmosphere was incredible. The entire house was made of mud bricks and wood. The floor wavered and bent as people walked on it and everything was slightly crooked. Each home was (continued on page 6)
July 2011
LHAKAR – The Tibetan Grassroots Revolution By Caroline Couffinhal “Lhakar is the movement that started and inspired many young Tibetans in Tibet after the 2008 uprising. This is an effort to further spread the movement amongst the Tibetans-inexile,” stated Dolkar, a 23-year-old Tibetan living-in-exile. Lhakar is a homegrown movement that has emerged in Tibet. In spite of China’s intensified crackdown, Tibetans have embraced the power of strategic non-violent resistance. Every Wednesday, a growing number of Tibetans are making a special effort to wear traditional clothes, speak Tibetan, dine in Tibetan restaurants, and buy from Tibetan-owned businesses. They channel their spirit of resistance into social, cultural, and economic activities that are self-constructive (promoting Tibetan language, culture, and identity) and non-cooperative (refusing to support Chinese institutions and businesses). Though humble in scale, these non-cooperation tactics hark back
to the Indian boycott of British textile at a turning point in the Indian freedom struggle. The Tibetan word “Lhakar” translates literally as “White Wednesday.” Wednesday is considered special by Tibetans because it is His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Soul Day. Since 2008, after the non-violent uprising, Tibetans in Tibet and in-exile have taken diverse Lhakar Pledges, resolving to boycott Made-in-China products, to eat vegetarian every Wednesday, to read a Tibetan newspaper once-a-week, to wear a Chupa every Wednesday, etc. Through these pledges and actions, Tibetans are coming together in the greatest non-cooperation movement Tibet has ever seen. All around the world, Tibetans are making a sincere effort to acknowledge Lhakar. In India, the movement is growing due to the immense involvement of volunteers, activists, writers, and trusted helpers. With the Tibetan Diaspora growing, this movement is
meant to keep the Tibetan soul alive at least one day a week. “One day; this means a lot.” In Dharamsala, for Tibetan people in-exile, that day means a lot; it means that Tibet’s soul is alive for at least one day. This day revives the Tibetan culture through simple actions such as wearing Chuba and other traditional clothing, speaking only in the Tibetan language all day long, listening to Tibetan traditional music, dining in Tibetan restaurants, and buying from Tibetanowned businesses. “A Connection with Tibet” In Dharamsala, in the Tibetan exile community, many people have decided to join the movement. A support group was recently formed in Dharamsala with the goal of publicizing Lhakar to the Tibetan community. Currently, they created a website, Facebook page, and Twitter account. Thanks to the internet, the Lhakar movement can be easily marketed around the world. Dolkar is a 23 year-old Tibetan girl, born in India. She has never seen her country but every Wednesday her thoughts are in Tibet and her lifestyle is strictly Tibetan. Through Lhakar, a connection is established between her and the “Roof of the World.” For Dolkar, the idea of preserving the culture, the language ... In short, the identity of Tibet adds another dimension to the movement. “I am Tibetan; I do not need a reminder of this, but every Wednesday more than any other day - I remember the struggle we lead and what is happening in Tibet. Thanks to this movement, there is clearly a connection between the community-in-exile and Tibetans in Tibet.” Gradually, the Tibetan communityin-exile takes part in the movement. Every Wednesday, Dolkar communicates her commitment to the Tibetan cause through her actions. “As soon as I meet new friends, I tell them about Lhakar. Tibetans-in-exile are very receptive and sensitive to the (continued on page 8)
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July 2011
Pastoral Nomad Resettlement Issue Ignites Global Interest By Caroline Couffinhal Pastoralism describes the interdependent relationship amongst pastoralists, their herds of ruminants, and their habitat. The Tibetan Plateau, average altitude of 4000 meters, is the area of the Drokpas (Brogpas). Due to the harsh climate, many regions at high altitudes do not allow people to settle on land which is limited to a few hectares. Taking with them everything they own, they must move with their herds of sheep, goats, and yaks on the broad steppe grasslands in search of pasture. On the Tibetan Plateau, the Rupshu (North India), in the Kham and Changtang (Tibet), Drokpas take shelter in tents of yak hair and feed their fires with the dung of this animal, which also provides them with meat, milk, wool, and leather at the base of their livelihood. Their long walks are punctuated with stops near the bazaar where they sell their surplus to buy rice and other grains. Nomads typically raise yaks, goats, and sheep; and migrate between their winter homes in the valleys and highland pastures in the summer. They typically spend two-thirds of the year in the valleys.
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Nomadism is declining everywhere, however. More and more families now have a permanent winter camp. In Tibet, the Chinese regime negotiates production contracts with the pastoral nomads, trying to integrate them into the market economy. The plan also conducts massive relocation of nomads in artificial villages that are built in a hurry. For centuries, the Tibetan pastoral nomads and herders have successfully maintained a sustainable and mobile lifestyle, traveling to different seasonal pastures. This is about to change. Since 2000, the Chinese government has implemented policies for population displacement. Launched in the late 90s, the campaign included the development of western lands of China, sending nomads to unfamiliar habitats in order to boost economic activity and development in western areas, including Tibet. According to the 2007 HRW* report, “The Chinese government gave several justifications for its actions, citing primarily its concern to protect the environment, and quoting Chinese objectives to ‘bring development’ and ‘civilize’ the areas and people concerned.”
The authorities also justify their actions by presenting them ‘as a necessary response to environmental crises that affect Tibetan plateau.’ Since 2003, these policies have particularly radicalized in the prefectures of Golok (Guoluo) and Yushu in Qinghai Province. But they were also applied in the provinces Gansu, Sichuan, Yunnan, and the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR). Local people living in these regions are usually forced to sell their yaks and then resettled elsewhere. According to Freetibet.org, “around 300, 000 familiesin Tibet, involving 1.43million nomads and farmers were moved into new or fixed settlement homes since 2006.” “A close and positive relationship between the prairie ecosystem and its inhabitants.” According to an expert report published on the French website TibetInfo.net, China needs the knowledge acquired by generations of nomads on prairie ecosystems. Over the millennia, pastoral nomads learned that only good management of the Tibetan Plateau makes human life possible and ecologically sustainable. The nomads of Tibet are (continued on page 7)
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July 2011
(continued from page 3) painted in colorful pastel washes and what the village lacked in finance, was outshone by the beaming smiles and vibrant colors of the little mountainside community. We seemed to spend much of the late evening going from house to house through narrow paths that led between the fields, sipping chai at every place we stopped. There wasn’t much I could do but watch and laugh at jokes that Lalu translated to me on the porch of each home. Everything was spoken in local dialect, but occasionally I heard the conversation drift to ‘Europe’ and all heads would point towards me. We joked and laughed all evening, and I noticed how different life was just a few hour trek from the hustle of the town below. There was no traffic, everyone was calm and smiling, and the view was serene. I drifted off easily that night to the sounds of cows lowing in the barn next door, and the sound of a village of content people settling down in the warm summer night. The following night however, was a far cry from the warmth and tranquillity I had felt in Naddi village. Having trekked at a breakneck speed all day, setting off at dawn, and ascending to a dizzying altitude, we found ourselves overlooking Kareri Lake – perhaps one of the region’s best kept secrets. Snow flecked mountains set a beautiful backdrop to the glass lake. As the sun lowered over the hillsides it cast a deep orange light over the high-pass, and reflected off the surface of Kareri like diamonds on the water. The weather began to change quickly however, and we found ourselves begging for shelter in one of the thick set Gaddi huts that the grizzled shepherds used. The lonely nomads seemed unaccustomed to strangers sharing their huts, and Lalu had to talk them round. Thankfully too, because it was here that I got my best interviews with the Gaddi, and how their ancient way of life was changing and adjusting to the global, tourist world that raged below. With the aid of Lalu, I asked them what they thought of the Tibetan situation in Dharamsala. It was generally agreed that the Dalai Lama was a great man; however, they seemed bemused at the wealth of some of the younger Tibetans, and knew Contact Magazine
little of the human rights crisis in Tibet. The four elderly nomad shepherds murmured quietly to each other through the night in the cramped hut. A huge electric storm was rolling through the valley and we were in the epicentre. The leathery kind faces of the nomads looked like masks in the light, changing with the warm glow of the fire embers to the pale white flashes of the storm. I could hear the sound of their ancient hookah pipe bubbling at intervals between the thunderclaps. I glanced at Lalu; he seemed nervous. I watched the corner of one of the shepherds lips curl down when one particularly loud crash of the storm hit; the air of the hut reverberating. White tobacco smoke swirled before his glazed Copyright Photo: Caroline eyes. We were at over 4500 Couffinhal meters in the Himalayas, and I was beginning to grow wary. It was as if we were huddled waiting for the rapture. Deafening noise came from every direction. The air around us began to light up with purple flashes at alarmingly fast intervals. We sat huddled in thick wool blankets around the embers of a fire that was slowly going out; the lengths of getting some firsthand research on Gaddi nomads in the mountains were proving difficult tonight. As the storm picked up in ferocity, the tiny stone hut, held together with mud began letting in ice cold water, which made my skin crawl. It hissed on the fire like great mournful tears. I could almost imagine the enormous boulders that were strewn across the adjacent pass being tossed around in the storm like marbles in the hands of Hindu Gods in the wind. The Gaddi men around me believed they had a direct, ancient bloodline to the God Shiva; I wondered if that was why they were so placid. I slid deeper into my thick wool blanket, and lay there until sunrise. After a painful night with little sleep, and having trekked down the foothills for ten hours, I found myself floating around in a cool mountain pool; near the end of the journey. I had been trying to teach Lalu how to swim, which had proved mixed results. I began relaxing having given up after some fruitless splashing. I ran through all of the facts and interviews I had covered on the trip, and was alarmed and amazed at how difficult life was up in the mountains for the lonely shepherds. Every year they would cross the mighty Dhauladhars range, with their entire flocks of goat and ox. I was touched 6
by the kindness and generosity of the people I had met, whose kitchen shelves were often bare, yet they had always provided. It had also been truly insightful to learn what these ancient nomadic herders thought of the Tibetan settlement in the valley below, and how the huge number of tourists flocking to the area were affecting their way of life in a great way too. I had laughed at first when I witnessed one particularly elderly shepherd dressed in traditional Gaddi dress whipping out a mobile phone. I then learned that the sheer demand for technology to cover the routes of Western tourists had created this dependency and availability. My rucksack was stuffed with notes to say the least. Lying in the cool mountain pool, I shut my eyes for a while, floating like a leaf, and I tried to enjoy the cool water. I wanted to ignore my protesting stomach full of goat’s heart which I had been obliged to eat the night before in the hut. I opened my eyes sometime later to see around 50 curious faces peering down at me from a ledge above. I lifted my head out of the water and heard them laughing and making remarks to each other. On the rock above were the local secondary school kids - just the boys, as the girls were higher up the path hiding behind trees and rocks in an attempt not to be seen. Suddenly there were huge splashes all around as the older students began diving into the pool. They were pointing and laughing at Lalu for his (apparently feeble) swimming attempts, and began paddling around the pool to show off their own strokes, which I had never seen before, and would shame an Olympian. On the way back through the pine forests, full of chai tea and with my muscles loose from the swim, Lalu began singing one of his Gaddi songs, which he explained were Pagan stories - a way of passing on Gaddi history to the next generation. He led the way to the bedlam of the little Tibetan town-in-exile through the woods, singing at the top of his voice, and occasionally hopping from rock to rock on the winding forest path. (Note: Names of individuals have been altered.)
July 2011
Copyright photo: Samuel Ivor
(continued from page 5) essential in the long-term health of ecosystems and water resources upon which China relies on. According to the report “No One Has the Liberty to Refuse” (HRW-2007), there are approximately 4000 years since the hypothetical origin of pastoralism. The persistence of these livelihoods and this way of life have shown a close and positive relationship between ecosystem meadows and its inhabitants. This is a benefit for families and clans, communities and monasteries, and more broadly, the common good of China. China claims that Tibet would be degraded grassland due to overgrazing. Based on this argument, China focuses an essential part of its mitigation measures of global warming on the uprooting and the forcible transfer of nomads out of their territories, to prevent further deterioration of the ecosystem in Tibet. On the contrary, a recent scientific study - conducted by Chinese scientists - states that climate change - not the land use - is responsible for 81% degradation of grasslands located on the Tibetan Plateau near the upper Yangtze. In 2009, an article published by the Tibet Post revealed that the “Chinese government forcibly relocates 50,000 Tibetan herders to urban areas.” The article further states, “Chinese government claims to have ‘settled nearly 50,000 Tibetan nomads into sedentary communities in a drive to protect the remote alpine region’s fragile ecology from their herds.’ Under the façade of environmental protection, this act will have a disastrous impact on the Tibetan herders’ ability to maintain their traditional lifestyles and will threaten a distinctive form of Tibetan cultural identity.” This is clear. Forceful Resettlement of Nomads is Still Ongoing in Tibet. The HRW report says, “Even assuming that the government had valid reasons for the environment or other to transfer the Tibetan people under certain circumstances, travel [nomad resettlement] is almost always made without transparency, prior consultation and payment of compensation after travel, as required by Chinese law as international law.” Nomadic families, often illiterate and uneducated, are given a contract by the Chinese government. This contract, once signed, binds the nomadic families to life in the artificial village without them understanding what their new life actually encompasses. Nomadic families, who were
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Copyright: Dept. of Info and Intl Relations Resettlement village established by Chinese Government to house Pastoral Nomads in iibet.
at one time interdependent on nature, are blinded by the offer of a safe shelter; unaware of not being able to live off the land any longer. According to DIIR, the Department of Information and International Relations based in Dharamsala, the situation is two-folded. Not only is the relationship between the pastoral nomads and nature being dissolved, but also the transferal of nomadic families from meadows to cement is fostering the destruction of an ancient culture and way of life. This is not only a political issue any longer; it is becoming an
environmental issue. Scientists from around the world have proven that the nomadic lifestyle of environmental interdependence is essential for the growth of the ecosystem in China. With education comes great responsibility; it is up to the environmental community to raise awareness of this critical situation while the injustice to nature and the people can still be stopped. Sources: Migrationinformation.org Wikipedia.org HumanRightWatch- report2007DIIR office - Dharamsala
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July 2011
(continued from page 4) movement. The message is spreading rapidly and there is growing support in the community. What interests and appeals to the people in this movement is probably the fact that it is more a state of mind. There are no rules; no restrictions; anyone is free to take the lead or not to follow the movement. This movement is for the people, for each Tibetan. I, for one, am more responsible as a Tibetan on Wednesday. I take action. When I wear my Chupa I try to inspire others.” Tibet I Care is an organization initiated by a group of young Tibetans inspired by the Lhakar movement. Tibet I Care has decided to organize the firstawareness campaign around the movement during His Holiness’s 76 th birthday celebration on July 6th, which falls on… Wednesday! During this campaign called The Tibet Games, traditional games such as Shooting the Arrow, Lifting the Rock, Skipping, and Tug-o-war are inspired by
Lhakar. The Tibet Games will be held at TCV Day School in McLeod Ganj, Dharamsala on Wednesday, July 6 th between 2:00-5:00pm The event is supported by six local organizations (Gu-Chu-Sum, LHA, SFT, Tibet Hope Center, Tibet I Care and Volunteer Tibet). For more information visit Lhakar.org Follow the Lhakar movement: On Facebook: Lhakar Jones and Lhakar Solidarity On Wordpress: Lhakardiaries On Twitter:
Lhakardiaries
Book Donations Desperately Needed for Tong-Len Children’s Hostel By Angela Clyburn Tong-Len Charitable Trust is an organization working with the homeless Indian community in Dharamsala. TongLen was founded by Jamyang a Tibetan monk who upon witnessing their appalling poverty decided to make some changes. Many visitors and even some residents would be surprised to learn that over 800 people live in a sprawling tent slum in Lower Dharamsala. The families earn their living begging and rubbish collecting, working in low-wage trades such as shoe polishing, construction work, and selling items such as socks and blankets. Since 2004 Tong-Len has been
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providing free life changing health and education services to the slum dwellers. Currently 40 children from the slum live in hostels and attend school daily. This program has been an enormous success. On their most recent report cards 27 of the children scored over 90%. In the coming months Tong-Len is opening it’s new hostel buildings which will accommodate 96 children. Donors from India and abroad, including His Holiness the Dalai Lama, contributed to this important project. Due to increases in the costs associated with providing electricity and water to the new buildings, Tong-Len does not have the budget to
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purchase many books for the hostel library. Donations will be greatly appreciated by the children as they love to read; not too mention reading is essential to the success of their education. Tong-Len is requesting the donation of new or gently used books in English or Hindi suitable for children age 5 to 18. Books can be dropped off in McLeod Ganj at Jimmy’s Italian Kitchen or Common Ground Restaurant. They can also be brought to the Tong-Len office in Lower Dharamsala. Cash donations can be made at the office or on-line using a credit card; tax receipts are available. Please mention that your donation is for the library. Donors are asked to print their name and home country or home town in the books if they would like to, as the children would enjoy knowing a little about the donors. Further information about TongLen’s projects and the child sponsorship program can be found on their website www.tong-len.org or by calling the office at (01892) 223930 Please donate books to help develop the hostel library. Children will Mob / enjoy your: 98161-50326 donation for years to come. July 2011 www.yogatribe.org
ART & MUSIC Naam Art Gallery LOCATION: Main Road Sidhbari Dharamsala MOBILE: 9816043708 Tibet Museum LOCATION : Near the Main Temple and the Namgyal Monastery gate, McLeod Ganj HOURS: 9am-5pm, Tue-Sun Tibet Photo Exhibit: 50 Years of Struggle and Oppression LOCATION : Gu-Chu-Sum hall on Jogiwara Rd, next to the Lung-ta Japanese Restaurant HOURS: 2am-5pm on Mon, Wed and Fri Wood Carving Classes LOCATION : Zoha Art, Bhagsu Nag Rd CONTACT: Meena EMAIL: kriast@rediffmail.com Music Classes Kailash Tribal Music School All kinds of Indian Traditional instruments WEB : www.musictribe.org LOCATION : Bhagsu Rd, near Green Shop HOURS : visiting 1-2pm, no class on Tues PHONE: 981 615 0326 EMAIL: yogisivadas@gmail.com
Vedic Astrologer LOCATION : Kunga Guest house (Nick's Italian Restaurant), Bhagsu Rd McLeod Ganj-Map #6 MOBILE : 09897339026 HOURS : Drop-in
BUDDHIST PHILOSOPHY Library of Tibetan Works & Archives LOCATION : Gangchen Kyishong, between McLeod Ganj and Lower Dharamsala HOURS : 9-10am, 11-noon and 3-4pm PHONE: 222 467 Public Audience with HH Karmapa CONTACT: Cheme Choegyal LOCATION: Sidhpur HOURS: 2.30pm, Wed and Sat PHONE: 9816315336 DETAILS : www.kagyuoffice.org Tushita Meditation Center WEB : www.tushita.info LOCATION: Dharamkot HOURS: 9:30-11:30am & 12:30-4pm, Mon-Sat PHONE: 221 1866 EMAIL: tushita_info@sacharnet.in
Tibetan Astrology LOCATION: Bhagsu Rd, near KCC Bank PHONE: 941 810 1965 EMAIL : soyeshi@yahoo.co.in
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Lhamo’s Kitchen, Tibetan Cooking Classes LOCATION : Bhagsu Rd, near the Green Shop PHONE : 981 646 8719 HOURS: 8am-9pm N is ha ’ s Ind ia n C o o k ing C la s s LOCATION: Hotel Lotus Leaf, Jogiwara Rd HOURS: Classes from 4-6pm EMAIL : nisha@indiancookingcourse.com S angy e’s K it chen Tr ad it io na l T ib e t a n C o o k ing C la s s e s Recommended by Lonely planet LOCATION :Lung-ta Restaurant, below the Tashi Choeling Monastery on Jogiwara Rd HOURS:10am-12pm and 4-6pm PHONE: 981 616 4540 EMAIL : sangyla_tashi@yahoo.co.in
HEALTH SERVICES COOKING
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Lha Tibetan Cooking School LOCATION : Lha Office, Temple Rd PHONE : 220 992 HOURS : Registration from 9am-11am, See pg 3. Indian Cooking Classes LOCATION : Jogiwara Rd, next to Tibetan Ashoka Guesthouse HOURS: 10am-6pm PHONE : 941 813 0119 EMAIL: mahinder_m@hotmail.com
Ayuskam Health Care LOCATION: First floor Hotel Anand Place, near Bhagsu taxi stand and near Tibetan Hotel Ashoka Guest House McLeod Ganj MOBILE: 9805928923/9736211210 WEBSITE: www.ayuskama.com
Ayuskam Health Care LOCATION: First floor Hotel Anand Place, near Bhagsu taxi stand and near Tibetan Hotel Ashoka Guest House McLeod Ganj MOBILE: 9805928923/9736211210 WEBSITE: www.ayuskama.com
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HEALTH SERVICES (continued from page 9) Dr. Sant Marwah Clinic LOCATION: in front of Main Temple HOURS: 9:30am-6:30pm PHONE : 221 106, 98160 21106 Kumar Ayurvedic and Panchkarma LOCATION : Hotel Surya Rd, opposite the Tourism Informations Centre PHONE : 941 824 9399 OURS: 10am-2pm and 2:30-7pm Maanav Health Clinic LOCATION : Main Square HOURS: 10am-12:30pm and 2-5pm PHONE: 941 815 5795 EMAIL : maanavcare@yahoo.co.in Men-Tsee-Khang LOCATION: between McLeod Ganj and Lower Dharamshala PHONE : 222 618, 223 113 EMAIL: tmai@vsnl.com Nature Cure Health Club LOCATION: Jogiwara Rd, next to Tibetan Ashoka Guest House-Map #10 HOURS: 9:30am-6:30pm PHONE :: 941 813 0119 EMAIL: mahinder_m@hotmail.com Primary Health Centre LOCATION : Jogiwara Rd, main market HOURS: 9:30am-4pm, Mon-Sat Tibetan Delek Hospital LOCATION: Gangchen Kyishong, between McLeod Ganj and Lower Dharamsala PHONE : 222 053, 223 381 HOURS : Outpatient services: 9am-1pm, Mon-Sat; Specialist clinics: 2-4:30pm, MonSat; Emergencies: 24 hrs, daily
LANGUAGES Tibetan Language Class LOCATION : Lha Office, Temple Rd HOURS : Registration from 9-11am, Mon-Fri PHONE : 220 992 See ad on pg 3. Hindi Classes LOCATION : Ketan Lodge, Jogiwara Rd, beside the Korean Restaurant PHONE : 981 649 4732 Hindi Lessons with Kailash LOCATION: At Bhimsen’s Indian Cooking Class PHONE : 220 063, 941 816 1947 HOURS : 4-6pm, daily Hindi Lessons with Sunil LOCATION : Kunga Guesthouse, Bhagsu Rd and in Dharamkot PHONE : 221 942, 941 818 7281 EMAIL : sunilsharma81in@yahoo.co.in Tibetan Language LOCATION : The Library HOURS: 10-11am and noon-1pm See Buddhist philosophy listing.
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Tibetan with Teacher Pema Youdon: LOCATION: Jogiwara Rd, opposite the post office HOURS: 1-4pm, or leave a message.
MASSAGE Lha Healing Oil Massage Courses & Treatment LOCATION : Lha Office, PHONE : 220 992 HOURS :
Universal Yoga with Vijay Recognized by Yoga Alliance WEB : www.vijaypoweryoga.com LOCATION: Room #5, Yongling School Building, Jogiwara Rd - Map #15 HOURS: 9:00 -11:10am & 4:30 - 6:30Pm EMAIL : vijayamar@yahoo.com
MEDITATION
Temple Rd
Registration from 9am-11am, See pg 3.
Kailash Tribal School Taught byYogi Sivadas WEB : www.yogatribe.org LOCATI ON : Bhagsu Rd, near the Green Shop - Map #6 HOURS : visiting 1-2pm, no class on Tues PHONE: 981 615 0326 EMAIL: yogisivadas@gmail.com Nature Cure Health Club LOCATION: Near Tibetan Ashoka,Jogiwara Rd PHONE: 941 813 0119 EMAIL: mahinder_m@hotmail.com Shiatsu & Swedish Massage LOCATION : Lha Office, Temple Rd PHONE : 220 992 See ad pg 3. Synergy Ayuredic Massage Centre LOCATION : Near Tibetan Ashoka, Jogiwara Rd PHONE: 941 80 8488 EMAIL: mcleodganj@gmail.com Traditional Thai Massage LOCATION : Opposite the Govt. Tourist Information Centre, Hotel Surya Rd PHONE: 981 633 9199 EMAIL: jite02@yahoo.com
YOGA & REIKI Himalayan Iyengar Yoga Centre LOCATION: Dharamkot, on the footpath to Bhagsu - Map #5 EMAIL: info@hiyogacentre.com WEB: www.hiyogacentre.com Kailash Tribal School, RYS 200 & RYS 500 YTTC (Yoga Alliance USA Recognized) LOCATION : Bhagsu Rd, near the Green Shop WEB : www.yogatribe.org HOURS : visiting 1-30 pm, Closed on Tuesday PHONE: 981 615 0326 EMAIL: yogisivadas@gmail.com Om Yoga, Meditation & Reiki Centre LOCATION : Ketan Lodge, behind Akash Hotel, on Jogiwara Rd - Map #17 HOURS : 8am-6pm PHONE : 980 569 3514 Rishi Yoga Centre with Yogi Shivam WEB: www.siddharthayogacentre.org LOCATION: Himalyan Paradise Hotel Jogiwara Rd - Map #15 HOURS: 7-8am & 6:15-7:15pm PHONE: 981 656 5138 EMAIL : yogi_shivam@yahoo.com Siddhartha Yoga Centre with Yogi Shivam WEB: www.siddharthayogacentre.org LOCATION : Upper Bagsu Nag Map #1 HOURS: 7-8am & 6:15-7:15pm PHONE: 981 656 5138 EMAIL : yogi_shivam@yahoo.com
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Kailash Tribal Meditation School Taught by Yogi Sivadas WEB : www.yogatribe.org LOCATION : Bhagsu Rd, nr the Green Shop - Map #6 HOURS : visiting 1-2pm, no class on Tues PHONE: 981 615 0326 EMAIL: yogisivadas@gmail.com I am Happy Open Ashram www.iamhappy.in EMAIL: info@iamhappy.in LOCATION : Behind Hotel Akashdeep, Bhagsu- Map #6 & Mcleodganj HOURS: 4-5pm, Mon-Sat MOBILE : 9882868470 or 9569221047 WEB:
Om Yoga, Meditation & Reiki Centre See the Yoga & Reiki section. Tushita Meditation Center WEB: www.tushita.info LOCATION: Dharamkot HOURS: 9:30-11:30am, Mon-Sat PHONE : 221 866 EMAIL : spc@tushita.info Vipassana Meditation WEB : www.sikhara.dhamma.org LOCATION: Dharamkot HOURS: 4-5pm, Mon-Sat PHONE : 221 309 EMAIL: info@sikhara.dhamma.org
Tour guide service by nuns Tibetan Nuns Project’s branch office based in McLeod Ganj provides you with tour guide services around Dharamsala – including nunneries. For full details, please contact us at: Tibetan Nuns Project, c/o Dolma Ling Nunnery P.O. Sidhpur – 176057, Dist. Kangra, H.P (INDIA) Email – tnpindia@sancharnet.in Contact no – 1892 246413/246419 Mobile no – 94180 34641
Adra Shawls We specialize in Mongolian Pashmina, Silk Pashmina, Ladakhi Wool, pure Pashmina, Silk Angoora, Yak Wool, Pure Wool Shawls & Kullu Shawls. Factory Price
Wholesale and retail available We are open 7 days a week: Mon - Sunday Please visit in Bhagsu Nag near taxi stand at Anand Palace Hotel Road We accept all credit cards Contact: 01892 220665, Mob: 92186 61112 anupsharma6692@yahoo.com
Each Item is genuine and guaranteed
July 2011
Traditional Tibetan Soft Dolls
- Map #3
For play or decoration! Individually handcrafted and filled with pure, local sheep wool. Tamana Shop, Jogiwara Rd, or visit our workshop. Contact: 981 637 4389
Nature Cure Health Club with Mahinder Kapoor Jogiwara Rd, next to Tibetan Ashoka Guest House - Map # 13, Mobile: 94181 30119 or 09736333888 Email: mahinder_m@hotmail.com,
GOING TOAMRITSAR? Come see us at Tourist Guest House British colonial mansion turned into beautiful guest ho use that tourists have been flocking to for a taste of the Raj life style. We have I nternet connection at Rs 1/min.
12 years’ experience & recommended by the Lonely Planet Visit us for: Swedish massage courses & treatment, Zen Shiatsu courses, treatment, reflexology treatment, SPA , Singing Bowl Treatment, steambaths, sauna & mud baths.
Comfortable stay with home cooked meals. Dorm bed Rs 85, Single/dble w. bath Rs 125-250. Walking distance from train and bus. Private parking. Recommended in travel guide ‘Lets Go-2000’.
Our teacher has had experience teaching in Israel.
Contact Harindar at : 0183-2553830 / 0183-3103219 E-mail : bubblesgoolry@yahoo.com
Tourist Information Police Contact Information
Bus Schedule
LOCATION :
Past St.John’s Church, on road to Dharamshala in Cantt area. PHONE: 221 483
* Times and prices may vary. Please check with the bus stand ahead of departure.
Tibetan Delek Hospital
LEAVING FROM THE MCLEOD GANJ BUS STAND, UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED: DELHI:
Ordinary Bus: 4:45am, 6pm, 6:45pm, 8:15pm and 8:30pm (Rs330) Semi Deluxe Bus: 6pm (Rs355) AC Volvo Semi-Sleeper: 8pm (Rs1035) AC TATA: 8:30pm (Rs840)
AMRITSAR:
Ordinary Bus: 4:45am (Rs165) *from Dharamsala
DEHRADUN : MANALI:
Ordinary Bus: 9pm; AC Deluxe: 5:30pm
Ordinary Bus: 11am, 12:10pm, 12:30pm, 2:10pm, 3:50pm, 5pm (Rs75)
Ordinary Bus: 5am, 5:30am, 6am, 8am, noon and 4:55pm (Rs235) *from Dharamsala Semi Deluxe Bus: 8:22am, 7:45pm and 9:30pm (Rs???) *from Dharamsala
The McLeod Ganj Post Office is located on LOCATION: Jogiwara Rd, past Peace Cafe HOURS: 9:30am-1pm and 2-5pm, Mon-Fri; 9:30am-noon, Sat. PHONE: 221 924 Parcels and money orders can be sent in the mornings only.
TAXIS
FOR BOOKINGS: LOCATION : ticket stand under McLLo’s, main square HOURS: 10am-6pm, daily PHONE: 221750 For deluxe buses, book through any travel agency.
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Gangchen Kyishong, between McLeod Ganj and Lower Dharamshala HOURS: Outpatient services: 9am-1pm, MonSat; Specialist clinics: 2-4:30pm, Mon-Sat; Emergencies: 24-hrs, daily. PHONE: 222 053,223 381
Post Office
Ordinary Bus: 5:40pm, 8:40pm *from Dharamsala
PATHANKOT:
SHIMLA :
LOCATION:
A private taxi to Lower Dharamsala will cost you Rs 160. Cram into a jeep (from the bus stand), and it’ll only cost you Rs10.
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July 2011
Around Town: Helping Out ANIMAL
RESCUE
Dharamsala Dog Rescue We are in urgent need of vet volunteers, animal experts and sponsors. W e are in immediate need of sponsors for two paralysed dogs that need a home, wheelchair, monthly food and medicine. Please contact us if you see an injured/sick dog. Anything you can do is appreciated. WEB : www.hnsindia.org LOCATION : Behind the District Court Complex on Chilgari St, Lower Dharamsala PHONE : 981 622 0841 EMAIL: friendsforanimals@gmail.com
CO MMU NIT Y
OUT REA CH
The Active Nonviolence Education Center (ANEC) facilitates trainings, workshops and open forum discussions on A N E C nonviolent strategies to help resolve disagreements and differences at all levls of human society. As part of our General Outreach Program, ANEC welcomes volunteers from western countries to participate in informal panel discussions on ideas and views of regional and global peace and nonviolent strategies. Free lunch and tea for volunteers. WEB : www.anec.org.in LOCATION : No. 262, 1st floor, Khajanchi Mohalla, Khunyara Rd, Lower Dharamsala PHONE : 941 809 4476, 941 898 7745 EMAIL : executive_directoranec@yahoo.com Learning and Ideas for Tibet (L.I.T.) is a non-profit organization that needs a range of volunteers interested in the Tibetan movement and community education. CONTACT: Lauren PHONE : 941 879 4218 L O C AT I O N : Jogiwara Rd, near the Korean Restaurant Lha Community Social Work fosters projects for the benefit and enrichment of the local community. We provide a library, English and French classes, computer training, medical assistance programmes, environmental programmes and clothing distribution to needy Tibetans and Indians, in addition to supporting construction and renovation projects. See ad pg 3. WEB : www.lhaindia.org LOCATION : Temple Rd, across from State Bank of India HOURS: 9am-noon and1-5pm, Mon-Fri PHONE : 220 992 Nyingtob Ling (‘Realm of Courage’) helps support Tibetan children from disadvantaged families. The children work hard at making delightful handicrafts and paintings. They are so friendly and LOVE visitors! LOCATION: Near Norbulingka, Sidhpur PHONE : 0189 224 6366, 981 685 1841 EMAIL: nyingtobling@hotmail.com
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Rogpa Baby Care Centre We help low income Tibetan families to become self-sufficient by providing free child care for infants so their parents can work. Can you help with art, games, singing and lots of hard work? (including diaper changing!) If you can create and maintain a fun and loving atmosphere with our children, hours are Mon-Sat, either 8.30am-12pm or 1pm-5pm (located near no.13 on map) Rogpa Shop and Cafe Help serve drinks and cakes, plus sell our fairly traded products. We accept donated clothes & books (located near no.14 on map) Min. commitment for both jobs is 3 weeks Please contact us directly or by email rogpa2004@yahoo.com Volunteer Tibet You’re motivated to share your time and assist organisations in the Tibetan community. Even if you’re j us t passingthrough Dharamsala, there are still many ways to donate your time & make a difference. For a full list of volunteer opportunities,both long- and short-term, please contact us: WEB : www.volunteertibet.org.in LOCATION : Jogiwara Rd, opposite Akash Guesthouse. HOURS: 9am- and 5pm, Mon-Fri PHONE : 98820 17083, 220 894 EMAIL:volunteertibetdharamsala@gmail.com Women’s Team Volunteers required to teach Indian women computer/English skills. For more information visit Jitender@WomensTeam.com or mobile 09817515123
Cleaners every Monday at 9.30 am & join them up to The Clean Upper Dharamshala Project was founded in 1994 to provide a waste management system in and around McLod Ganj. The Green Workers, the Handmade Recycled Paper Factory, the Green Shop and the Environmental Education Centre are part of the Clean Upper Daramshala Project. Join us for the weekly guided tour on Wednesdays at 3 pm at the office of CUDP!
PUBLICATION Contact Magazine Submit a single piece or become a steady correspondent of this local, grassroots publication. Contact needs volunteers to write, proofread and edit copy and work on graphic design.Volunteers needed, especially those with a knowledge of Photoshop. CONTACT: Lobsang Rabsel at the Lha office, Temple Road. PHONE : 981 615 5523 EMAIL : info@contactmag.org
TUTORS & CLASS ASSISTANTS Volunteer language teachers, for both longand short-term placements, are needed for quality education in Mcleod Ganj: Gu-Chu-Sum provides support for ex-political prisoners and their families. It also organises campaigns for the release of current political prisoners. Gu-Chu-Sum School needs volunteers for its English conversation classes and tutoring sessions from 6pm onwards, Mon- Fri. LOCATION : Jogiwara Rd, downstairs Lung-ta Japanese Restaurant HOURS: 4:30-6:30pm PHONE : 220 680 EMAIL: humanrights.desk@guchusum.org
DONATIONS Lha Donation Center Accepting donations of all kinds: clothing, sleeping bags, books, school supplies, office supplies, medical supplies, used laptops, financial assistance... Donations are clearly recorded and distributed to those in need, both Tibetan and Indian. Lha is a registered non-profit, social service organisation. See advert on pg 3. Tong-Len Donations welcomed: medical supplies, stationary, books, toys and children’s clothing. LOCATION : Top floor, Bank of Baroda opposite the art gallery Kotwali Bazar, Dharamsala PHONE : 981 608 1562, 223 930
ENVIRONMENT The Mountain Cleaners is a voluntary organization founded in April 2009 by Jodie Underhill who have successfully set up a waste management system at the popular trekking destination Triund. You can help Jodie and the Mountain
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Tibet Hope Center is a registered NGO started by two Tibetans to support the newcomers from Tibet. We run a conversation class where our students can practice their English, and we are in constant need of conversation partners. They love to ask questions about your life and exchange ideas on many topics. Think Globally, Act Locally WEB: www.tibethopecenter.org LOCATION: Jogiwara Rd, behind Gu-Chu-Sum HOURS : 4:30-5:45pm, daily, and we even have a campfire every evening! PHONE : 981 637 3889 EMAIL : info@tibethopecenter.org works with Indian communities liv ing in poverty toward a healthy and sustainable future. Needed urgently: volunteer primary teachers and assistants for maths, English and art, as well as nurses and health workers. CONTACT: Tashi Lhamo LOCATION : Top floor, Bank of Baroda opposite art gallery, Kotwali Bazar, Dharamsala PHONE : 981 608 1562, 223 930 EMAIL : volunteer@tong-len.org
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