During the Days of Tibetan Culture held in Sochi from 28 September to 4 October 2014, members of the Dzogchen Community performed the Vajra Dance and Khaita Joyful Dances aimed at harmonising and achieving a pleasant and peaceful state. It was like telling a story of the life and virtues of Tibetans: their ability to enjoy life, to value the heritage of their ancestors, and to preserve the riches of their land.
The Days of Tibetan Culture offered a wide range of activities in Sochi from 28 September to 4 October. The event was organised by the Drepung Gomang Foundation to commemorate the arrival of an official delegation from the Tashi Palden Drepung Gomang Monastic University, the largest Tibetan university of philosophy, medicine, and astrology.
The focal point of the event was making the Green Tara sand mandala. This ancient Tibetan art was made available for Europeans about ten years ago. Over centuries, it had been a part of secret Tantric rituals. When building the Green Tara sand mandala, a cultural exposure program was presented to introduce people to Tibetan culture and the lifestyle of Tibetan monks in a large monastic university.
Every day started with a joint morning ceremony, involving the famous overtone singing of Tibetan lamas. After that the monks set to making the sand mandala, and anybody was free to observe this art.
Throughout the whole day lectures, press conferences and master classes were held. Participants had a chance to attend lectures in philosophy, meet the head of the delegation, consult an astrologer or a highly-skilled Tibetan physician, and take part in master classes.
For Sochi it was an unprecedented event. The first days attracted few people, but later on a lot of people got interested in the activities. Some people got their first taste of Tibetan culture, and many people learned more about the Dzogchen Community. Both participants and the organisers believe that it was a beneficial event for the city and its residents.
