Losar Potluck
Why Honor Temdey but Omit Ga-Ga-Kyi-Kyi on Losar.
Dear TANC Community & Friends,
On February 4, 2010, the Office of Tibet in NYC circulated an important notice from the Kashag (Tibetan Cabinet of Ministers) asking all the Tibetan Associations and its members to refrain from “joyous celebrations” during the upcoming Tibetan Losar (New Year) while honoring Losar tradition with the necessary ceremonial prayers and rituals.
Last night, TANC Board met and discussed this matter in length after careful due diligence. Most TAs that have called off all celebration arrangements such as picnics, dance, singing, etc. in response to the Kashag letter.
After careful review and discussion among our board:
TANC WILL CANCEL THE EVENING LOSAR LOVE FEST PROGRAM & CHANGE THE MORNING PROGRAM TO A SHORTER TRADITIONAL LOSAR RITUAL/PRAYERS CEREMONY WITHOUT POTLUCK.
The MORNING CEREMONY….
WHERE: BERKELEY ADULT SCHOOL on 1701 San Pablo (between Virginia & Delaware), Berkeley, CA 94701 – (moved from Marina due to bad weather forecast on Sunday)
WHEN: Sunday February 14th 10am sharp
WHAT: Traditional Losar rituals and ceremonies (TANC will serve traditional desi and tea)
POTLUCK LUNCH – TIME TO SHOW OFF YOUR BEST COOKING!!!
The Kashag letter forces Tibetans to rethink a provocative question: What reason do Tibetans have to celebrate Losar?
Consider the following:
a. The situation for Tibetans inside Tibet continues to be extremely dire,
b. 100s of Tibetans continuing to be persecuted and tortured in Chinese prisons or kept under close surveillance, and
c. Executions, disappearances and imprisonment of Tibetans in Tibet continued throughout last year.
There appears to be growing indications that Tibetans inside Tibet are once again being FORCED to CELEBRATE Losar this year [along with Chinese new year] by the Chinese government with goods and money being doled out to encourage Tibetans to party and showcase to the world that Tibetans are “happy” under the Chinese occupation [perhaps the timing of the 9th round of talks has something to do with their plans?].
A question you might be asking is: Why these changes 10 days before Losar, given the Tibet situation has been ongoing?
OUR interpretation on the timing of the Notice is as follows:
a. Kashag needed to wait till the talks were completed so they could gauge what the appropriate “next steps” to take are [an official call for limiting Losar to traditional ceremony only is very telling in-and-of-itself.], and
b. Envoys needed to return safely.
TANC Board decided that as a Tibetan organization and as Tibetans, TANC must honor Kashag’s Notice to show our solidarity with our brothers/sisters inside and make a global statement once again by peacefully resisting Chinese leadership’s ongoing attempts to portray a false picture of reality for Tibetans inside Tibet.
If WE want the world leaders to defy Beijing’s political pressures, then it seems only fair to ask that of ourselves, too. So, let’s Honor Temdey, Omit Ga-Ga-Kyi-Kyi on Losar.
Thus, our decision above despite the many invitations to western supporters/donors that were already sent for Losar this year. Hopefully, the reasons will be compelling for them to realize just how much more support our struggle needs!
We appreciate your understanding and cooperation. Please call TANC office at 510-666-1355 should you have any questions or need clarification.
Dechen Tsering
President, TANC
Subject: Happy Losar!
Date: Mon, 8 Feb 2010 11:47:52 -0800
With all due respect to the Kashag (cabinet of the Tibetan-Government-in-Exile), there is a time to mourn and a time to be joyous; and world-wide the beginning of a new year is a time to be joyous, to ring in the new year with high hopes, optimism and great expectations. The United States government did not issue an order to its people not to happily celebrate the new year following the 9/11 incident. The Chinese government did not issue a similar order to its people following the SARS epidemic and the destructive floods. The Indian government did not issue a similar order to its people after the dreadful attacks in Bombay, and I am sure the Haitian government will not issue an order to its people not to happily celebrate the new year next year because of the devastating earthquake it experienced.
This is not to say that we must not be mindful of the suffering our people are undergoing under Chinese rule in Tibet. We must think of them, pray for them each day, especially on new year’s day, and strive every day to make them happy. But, at the same time, we must also be able to get on with our lives and live life optimistically and happily. I am sure His Holiness the Dalai Lama will not deny us the opportunity to be happy whenever there is an occasion, because He strives for the happiness of all sentient beings.
If the Kashag feels that we should not celebrate our New Year because it falls on the same date as the Chinese New Year, then it should set another date when we can celebrate it happily.
Tashideleg & a very happy Losar to all.
Tsoltim N. Shakabpa
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