The year was 1290 . A crowd had gathered around a clearing, where broken down pillars marked the presence of an ancient temple, now long gone. A young boy, just 14 years old, leaned against one of those pillars, deep in thought. Then, he began speaking, and the crowd fell silent, listening to his every word. He spoke without any notes, translating the Bhagavat Gita, from Sanskrit, which only the pundits knew, to the language everyone in the village knew and spoke – a variety of Prakrit which developed into the Marathi language. Even as he spoke, one of the men in the audience realized how momentous this event was, and how important this composition would be. He began writing down the words the young boy spoke, and this composition was named by its author and composer, the Bhavartha Deepika – the enlightening meaning (of the Bhagavat Gita). Now, the ancient, holy text, was no longer restricted to the pundits, but accessible to all, understood easily by them, composed as it was, in their...
The reflection
of the Tibetan styled building seemed to shimmer in the water – the vibrant reds a striking contrast
against the greenery, and the blue of the sky. We had seen many such
structures over the last few days at Dharamsala. Yet, this was an image that
captured my attention. My camera didn’t seem to share my enthusiasm for the
sight, but I persevered. And this is the best I was able to do….
Have I
been able to capture the essence of the beauty I saw that day? It is for you to say.
We
were at the Norbulingka Institute near Dharamsala, having arrived just in time
for lunch. After a sumptuous meal, which we enjoyed in the company of a pair of
Yellow Billed Blue Magpies, we had found a guide, and were exploring the
institute.
The
original Norbulingka was the summer residence of the Dalai Lama in Tibet. The Norbulingka
Institute in Sidhpur, near Dharamsala is an effort to preserve Tibetan Art and
Culture, not just for the displaced Tibetans, but for everyone who wishes to know
more about it. Built in the typical Tibetan Architectural style, the Institute
conducts courses in traditional Tibetan arts, open to all. You can choose to
observe, or to learn the intricacies of ancient art forms such as Thangka
painting, applique, wood carving, as well as tailoring or weaving. There are
resident artists whose works are on display, as well on sale.
 |
| Artists at work on Thangkas... A single one can take months to paint!! |
The temple
here is a
testament to the talent and hard work of the artists of Norbulingka. There is
also a doll museum, with handmade dolls and dioramas depicting scenes from life
in Tibet – from different tribes and their ways of life, to the colourful
festivals.
 |
| Handmade dolls at the museum depicting one of the traditional dances. Note how the dolls depict the movements. |
I was
most impressed
by the efficient manner in which the Institute was run. We were welcomed at the
gates by a polite lady who gave us our tickets and told us we could avail of
the services of a guide for free. The guide was engaged, so we waited, using
the opportunity to have our lunch. The café was superb, and we enjoyed the
fare, both continental as well as Tibetan, and the ambiance perfect. By then,
the guide was free, and he took us around, telling us about the Institute, as
well as Tibet, and the situation there. The different sections of the
Institute, each focusing on one art form, were a revelation. The intricacies
involved and the detail were mind boggling, and I wished we had chosen to stay
here, and try our hand at one. He left us at the temple, showing us the way
ahead, and we spent a long time at the Doll Museum before heading to the shop. The
items on sale were products we had seen in the workshops, and we admired anew
the work that had gone into making them. They were on the expensive side, to be
sure, but we still returned with enough to keep our memories alive of this
amazing place.
 |
| One figure has so much detail. Imagine how much work goes into just one of these!! And then think of a complete painting or wood carving, with many such figures!! |
If
you are visiting Dharamsala, check out the website of the
Institute, and plan your visit accordingly.
For more information, visit http://www.norbulingka.org/visiting-norbulingka.html
This post is part of my series on my #summertrip 2015, and I hope to take you along with me as I recount stories from my month long trip, which took me across the country. To get an idea of all the places I visited, and what you can hope to read about, click here.
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- The Himachal Series-
Wow, I can see why it was so easy to stay and enjoy the surroundings! So much to see and do. I would have loved to try my hand at some of the artistic endeavors that were available.
ReplyDeleteYes, Natalie. I am sure you would have enjoyed this place. If you ever plan a visit to India, add this to your itinerary... I too want to go stay there sometime just to learn some art, but lets see if that ever happens!
DeleteThe first photo is brilliant brilliant brilliant. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDelete