A community hall in the small country town of Beerwah, near Namgyalgar, was transformed into a Tibetan community scene for Losar.
A crowd of 80 local residents and tourists were introduced to Khaita songs and dances to celebrate the Wood Dragon year at the fourth Khaita Annual Festival celebrating Tibetan New Year to be held in the area.
The festival, organized by Topgyal and Tsering, is funded by the local government, the Sunshine Coast Council and also supported by Shang Shung Institute of Australia and the Dzogchen Community of Namgyalgar Incorporated.
The festival also included a free introductory session of Yantra Yoga, taught by authorized Yantra instructor Emily Coeling.
Topgyal explained the meaning of Losar and traditional songs and dances besides Khaita songs and how Khaita was initiated by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu.
Topgyal and Tsering and daughter Dekyid and others, both Tibetans and non Tibetans, performed the music, singing and dancing which transported us from the hot Australian summer to snowy Tibetan mountains.
Meanwhile, dumplings were steaming in the kitchen and the audience then moved out to the shady deck to be introduced to Tibetan food culture with plates of momos.
Carol Albert
