Naropa Festival A Celebration in the clouds · 2018. 12. 5. · the Himalayan regions. The Naropa...
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16 Ÿfl¥’⁄UwÆv} Sandy and Vyjay A sea of maroon surround- ed a spot- lessly white three- tiered structure with a spire that rose to the skies. Closer inspection revealed that the sea of maroon was a huge con- gregation of Buddhist monks gracefully turned out in their maroon robes. The atmosphere seemed electric and pregnant with anticipation. There was a road that led straight to to the white structure and it was lined on both sides by crowds waiting patiently, excitement and anticipation writ large on beaming faces. A group of school kids waved and shouted, "Jhulay", which in Ladakhi translates as "Hello". Jhulay is the welcome sound that one hears like sweet music from the people of Ladakh during one's stay there. It is an utterance which compresses with- in it all the elements of welcome, friendship and hospitality. The crowd waited with bated breath. The white structure, Naro Palace awaited in mute splendour, gaily decked up for the occasion. The occasion was the Naropa fes- tival, one of the prominent and famous festivals of Ladakh that was a glowing tribute to the cul- ture and spirituality of Ladakh. Everyone awaited for the start of the festival with the arrival of the sacred relics from the ancient monastery of Hemis which was a few kilometres away. A cheer went up and young monks ran excitedly as a cavalcade slow- ly made its way down the moun- tains, the relics held reverently beneath a huge umbrella. Conches, drums, and other musi- cal instruments struck a heavenly music that echoed across the sur- rounding mountains. The relics were placed reverently in a cham- ber at the topmost tier of the Naro Palace where they would be avail- able for the public to have a glimpse during the course of the Naropa festival. The Naropa festi- val 2018 officially took off with a prayer for peace and happiness of all humanity led by Drukpa Thuksey Rinpoche. Naropa Festival Demystified The cold desert region of Ladakh which was part of the ancient silk route has also been home of Tibetan Buddhism for centuries. The ancient monasteries where monks practise the different eso- teric branches of Buddhism bear testimony to this. One of the most ancient of monasteries is the Hemis monastery that nestles in a valley hidden in the midst of high mountains and situated about 40 kilometres from Leh. The Hemis monastery dates back to the year 1630 and is known for the Naropa festival which is held in its vicinity as well as an annual festival held to coincide with the birth anniver- sary of Guru Padmasambhava, the 8th century seer who is credit- ed with the spread of Buddhism in the Himalayan regions. The Naropa festival is itself a cele- bration of the life and times and teachings of Naropa, an Indian saint who lived between 1016 to 1100 CE and was a student and preceptor at the famous and ancient Nalanda University. Naropa is known for his teachings which have influenced the Himalayan region immensely. His main contribution is acknowl- edged as what are known as the Six Yogas of Naropa which are a A Celebration in the clouds Naropa Festival Photos: Holy Relics of Naropa being brought to The Naro Photang (above, left) and, a kid at the Naropa festival (above). All photos by Sany & Vyjay The Naro Photang specially designed for the Naropa, 2018
Transcript of Naropa Festival A Celebration in the clouds · 2018. 12. 5. · the Himalayan regions. The Naropa...
16 Ÿfl¥’⁄U wÆv}
Sandy and Vyjay
A sea ofmaroonsurround-ed a spot-lesslywhitethree-tieredstructure
with a spire that rose to the skies.Closer inspection revealed that thesea of maroon was a huge con-gregation of Buddhist monksgracefully turned out in theirmaroon robes. The atmosphere seemed electricand pregnant with anticipation.There was a road that led straightto to the white structure and it waslined on both sides by crowdswaiting patiently, excitement andanticipation writ large on beamingfaces. A group of school kidswaved and shouted, "Jhulay",
which in Ladakhi translates as"Hello". Jhulay is the welcomesound that one hears like sweetmusic from the people of Ladakhduring one's stay there. It is anutterance which compresses with-in it all the elements of welcome,friendship and hospitality.The crowd waited with batedbreath. The white structure, NaroPalace awaited in mute splendour,gaily decked up for the occasion.The occasion was the Naropa fes-tival, one of the prominent andfamous festivals of Ladakh thatwas a glowing tribute to the cul-ture and spirituality of Ladakh.Everyone awaited for the start ofthe festival with the arrival of thesacred relics from the ancientmonastery of Hemis which was afew kilometres away.A cheer went up and young monksran excitedly as a cavalcade slow-ly made its way down the moun-tains, the relics held reverently
beneath a huge umbrella.Conches, drums, and other musi-cal instruments struck a heavenlymusic that echoed across the sur-rounding mountains. The relicswere placed reverently in a cham-ber at the topmost tier of the NaroPalace where they would be avail-able for the public to have aglimpse during the course of theNaropa festival. The Naropa festi-val 2018 officially took off with aprayer for peace and happiness ofall humanity led by DrukpaThuksey Rinpoche.
Naropa Festival DemystifiedThe cold desert region of Ladakhwhich was part of the ancient silkroute has also been home ofTibetan Buddhism for centuries.The ancient monasteries wheremonks practise the different eso-teric branches of Buddhism beartestimony to this. One of the mostancient of monasteries is the
Hemis monastery that nestles in avalley hidden in the midst of highmountains and situated about 40kilometres from Leh. The Hemismonastery dates back to the year1630 and is known for the Naropafestival which is held in its vicinityas well as an annual festival heldto coincide with the birth anniver-sary of Guru Padmasambhava,the 8th century seer who is credit-ed with the spread of Buddhism inthe Himalayan regions.The Naropa festival is itself a cele-bration of the life and times andteachings of Naropa, an Indiansaint who lived between 1016 to1100 CE and was a student andpreceptor at the famous andancient Nalanda University.Naropa is known for his teachingswhich have influenced theHimalayan region immensely.His main contribution is acknowl-edged as what are known as theSix Yogas of Naropa which are a
A Celebration in the cloudsNaropa Festival
Photos: Holy Relics of Naropa beingbrought to The Naro Photang (above,left) and, a kid at the Naropa festival(above). All photos by Sany & Vyjay
The Naro Photangspecially designed for
the Naropa, 2018
set of Tantric principles that help aperson move forward in the questfor enlightenment.It is widely believed that Naropawith the grace of his Guru Tilopaachieved enlightenment and uponhis enlightenment he was given aset of Six Bone Ornaments by theDakinis who are female spiritsaccording to Vajrayana Buddhism.The Six Bone Ornaments wereworn by Naropa and when hedirected his disciple Marpa to goto the Himalayan regions andspread the message of Buddhism,he gifted him the Bone Ornamentsalong with other holy relics. Theseornaments and relics have beenhanded down since then andreside in the ancient HemisMonastery near Leh. TheOrnaments are considered verysacred and also a very importantpart of the history of theHimalayan region. The ornamentsare on public display and worn bythe Gyalwang Drukpa, who is thespiritual head of the DrukpaLineage once in 12 years at theNaropa festival. It may be notedthat the Naropa Festival originallywas held every 12 years and wasdubbed as the Kumbh Mela of theHimalayas. However effectivefrom 2018 the Naropa Festival isbeing held every year. It is the SixBone Ornaments that are broughtin procession from the HemisMonastery during the Naropa fes-tival and placed in the NaroPalace to enable the public to seethem and be blessed.
A Riot of Colour & CelebrationThe Naropa festival is a grandcarnival of spirituality, dance,music. The 5 day long festival wasa forum for the meeting of theBuddhist masters from acrossIndia, Bhutan, Nepal, and othercountries who shared their knowl-edge and wisdom through reli-gious discourses. The festival alsoshowcased the very best of localdance and music in all its colourand vibrancy. The festival is a fit-ting celebration of the life andtimes as well as the teachings ofthe saint Naropa who makes his
presence felt even after more thana 1,000 years after leaving thephysical plane. The Naropa festi-val is held in the hallowed vicinityof the ancient Hemis monasteryabout 40 kilometers from Leh. Thefestival is a congregation of theDrukpa masters from acrossLadakh, Bhutan, and Nepal.Devotees assemble in hordes tolisten to religious discourses andimmerse themselves in the festivalof music and dance. The festivalalso attracts many internationaland national celebrities who haveperformed at the Naropa festival.The Naropa festival was not onlya sacred and spiritual event whichenabled one to cleanse ones' soulin the sanctified presence of thesacred relics and the Drukpa mas-ters but also an occasion toimmerse oneself in the realm ofdance and music. Local dancersand musicians brought alive theculture of the mountain kingdomlike never before and their per-formances touched the core of ourhearts. The voices of celebritysingers added more colour andglamour to the festival.One of the highlights of the
Naropa festival 2018 was theintroduction of the inaugural classof the Naropa Fellowship pro-gramme. The Naropa Fellowshipprogramme is a one-year residen-tial programme at a special cam-pus near the ancient Hemismonastery. "Musings From The Heart", a bookwritten by Gyalwang Drukpa, awell known humanitarian, environ-mentalist and author was alsoreleased on the august occasionof the Naropa festival 2018.Another important event was therelease of the music albumRhythm Of The Stars, which per-sonifies the voice of the land ofLadakh and features the youngand upcoming talent of the region.The proceeds of the sale of thesealbums would be contributedtowards the rebuilding of Keralaafter the havoc by the floods ofAugust 2018.The mountains echoed with thesongs of the mountains as theyouth of Ladakh energized thecrowds with their pristine musicand dance. One of the mostunusual performances that mes-merized all and sundry was the
Dharma dance by the Kung - Fununs. The Kung-Fu nuns are anorder of nuns of the Drukpa line-age and known for their humani-tarian work and social activism. The Naropa festival 2018 alsosaw two hundred and ninety nineladakhi women catapult into theGuiness record books by dancingthe largest Ladakhi dance. Another highlight as important asthe display of the sacred relics ofNaropa was the unfurling of thelargest silk embroidery of BuddhaAmitabha. The silk Thangkadepicts the life of the Buddha inexquisite colors and details and isunfurled daily during the course ofthe Naropa festival. All good things come to an endand so did the Naropa festival2018 but not before captivating amillion hearts. The shadows of themountains lengthened and thetemperature plummeted, icy windsblew from the snow clad peaks ofthe Himalayas and the last monkmade his way away from the NaroPalace. It was curtains for the cel-ebration in the clouds, but the endis the beginning as everyonegears up for another extravaganzain the Himalayas at the Naropafestival 2019. As the dust settleson the venue of the Naropa festi-val and the monks return to theirsequestered lives, one cannothelp but marvel at what thisunique festival has achieved. Ithas breathed fresh air and vitalityin the atmosphere and chargedeveryone remotely connected withit with optimism and hope. Hopefor a world filled with peace, loveand music.
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Photos: Thangka - the unveiling of thelargest silk embroidery of BuddhaAmitabha (above) and, Guiness WorldRecord for Largest Ladakh Dance-(Shondol) performed at NaropaFestival (bottom, left).
