India - February 2001

Lhosar  - Orissa, India
February 24, 2001

Rinpoche's yard decorated for Lhosar 2001

The Year of the Iron Snake literally began with a bang (!) in Orissa, India with the loud noises of firecrackers and fireworks accompanied by barking besengi dogs. (Jigme Rinpoche had teased all of the visitors into putting 1000 Rs each into the firecracker budget.) Everywhere children, adults and the elderly greeted everyone with "Tashi Delek!" - much laughing, food, tea, happy times. It was very heartwarming to see the entire Ripa family together including all of Rinpoche's daughters as well as his sons Jigme Rinpoche and Lhunpo Rinpoche, and Rinpoche's sister and her husband and children from Switzerland. Namkha Rinpoche's beautiful peacock greeted everyone as they came through the backyard of his home.

Sylvie from France

Many people had traveled long distances to attend these special events. Carlo Pusterla of Switzerland, Jigme Rinpoche's student, attended as did his student Sylvie from France. A number of Namkha Drimed's U.S. students also attended including Chris Jones, Anthony Brooks, Claudia Dunitz, Iris Anderson. The feeling of joy at coming together permeated the atmosphere completely.

Rinpoche on throne, Rigon Thupten Mindrolling, 2001

People stopped in to see His Eminence and he welcomed everyone, although he continued to smile and write down termas even while talking. He expressed happiness that so many people had come together at this time. He said it was very auspicious.

A monk from the monastery, Lhosar 2001

It was a joyful thing to see that the quality of life in the monastery environment has improved very much recently due to everyone's kindness and generosity. The monastery trim had been repainted. The technology project has created a very professional office for them in which they can hold meetings and also communicate more easily with their modern phones, fax, computer, copier, etc. There are a lot more flowers everywhere. The path from the monastery to the new residence building has been developed into a real path lined with stones and flowers. The Phuntsokling water project sponsored by Jigme Rinpoche's students has been very successful in bringing quality water to everyone. Overall there is noticeable improvement in appearance and quality of life. And the monk health project has brought improvement to health conditions the monks had been experiencing. The monks also are speaking very excellent English nowadays.

One of Orissa's female residents, Lhosar 2001

Sunrise at the Rigon Thupten Mindolling Monastery is always greeted by Tibetans perambulating the monastery building while chanting Guru Rinpoche mantras. They also stopped at intervals to turn the prayer wheels. Some of us westerners joined them each morning on these monastery rounds. Inside the monastery, monks performed pujas. As the cymbals and large horns sounded inside, the monastery dogs laid sleepily on the entry stairs, looking very peaceful in the aura of the sacred chants.

For the morning of Lhosar, families from the five camps came to receive Rinpoche's blessings at dawn. The Ripa masters and monks began pujas before dawn in Rinpoche's shrine room of his home, before the crowds of visitors and families arrived to bring offerings and receive New Year blessings. There was much joy, laughter, shouting of TASHI DELEK! and sharing of tsog accompanied by horns, cymbals, chanting.

Men from Orissa settlement

Everyone took turns participating in some fiercely competitive games. The button/board game was quite hot! Plastic buttons that looked somewhat like tiddlywinks were the tools and we were to pop them with fingers and/or thumbs into the round slots at the sides and corners of the colorful board, something like a miniature wooden billiards table. Some of the monks excelled at the game! Popping the buttons was brutal on the fingers, however, unless one did it exactly right. Then of course there was the usual card game with everyone betting 10 rupees a hand, or upping it 10 or 20 rupees to stay in, not unlike poker. One fellow won most of the money and of course everyone gave him a loud teasing. The games were an incredible amount of fun and rowdiness and a way for people to get to know each other - both westerners and Tibetans. Language was no barrier as long as you could say "10 rupees"!

The dance games in the back yard of Rinpoche's home also were much fun. You had to sing and dance and look for the right cue to grab the right number of people or you were "OUT"! Eventually, of course, EVERYONE but one was out. And the winner had to drink chang. In meantime, the laughter was loud, without everyone having a great time.

The Ripa Wedding
February 26, 2001

Alan and Palmo

A wedding within the Ripa family was the main event of the Lhosar celebration time: the marriage of His Eminence's daughter Palmo to Alan Goldstein. Since the wedding celebration went on from dawn to beyond midnight of February 26, there is much to describe.

Alan and Palmo on ceremonial dias

The bride and groom met privately for the marriage ceremony with the H.E. Namkha Drimed Rinpoche at dawn in the second floor shrine room of Rinpoche's home. The family of both the bride and groom, dressed beautifully for the special occasion, waited at the foot of the stairs for a long time and finally at 9:30 a.m. family members and guests were permitted to come upstairs to the shrine room to present katas and gifts to the couple. The mother of the bride presented several traditional pieces of the most magnificent Tibetan jewelry to the bride. The wedded couple sat and smiled patiently while everyone piled silk katas around their necks, until the stack almost covered their ears, and laid gifts at their feet.

The Goldstein family blanketed in katas (L to R: Lisa, Vickie, Bruce)

Finally katas were also stacked around the necks of all family members! Several members of the groom's family had come from the U.S. and were also enjoying this traditional Tibetan wedding including his mother and dad, Anita and Paul, as well as his brother Bruce and wife Vicki. Even Alan's cousin Lisa from Baltimore, Maryland had traveled the long distance to Orissa.

Palmo's golden glistening satin wedding gown was truly royal in its grandeur. The large turquoise and coral beads in her hair, traditional Khampa accessories, added a beautiful touch and it would not be an exaggeration to say she looked like a Princess. Alan Goldstein was very handsome and regal in his black and white formal Tibetan chuba. And their matching wedding rings were created of the special brown/black/white gemstone found only in Tibet - the sacred self-arising gemstone.

Men and women from the Orissa settlement

The wedding day was a special day for all of the camps in the refugee settlement as well since huge tents had been set up in Rinpoche's backyard. There was wonderful singing and dancing throughout the day and night. Traditional Tibetan songs and dances were performed in women's groups, men's groups and mixed groups as well as children's groups. Their costumes were very beautiful.

A dance by Tibetan children of Orissa	Tseyang and women of Orissa, Tibetan dance	A men's Tibetan dance

Men from the Orissa settlement	Women from the Orissa settlement

It was so inspiring to see these exquisite Tibetan songs and dances had been culturally preserved so we could share in them now. Palmo herself sang a very beautiful solo as did her sister Sonam. And her sister Tseyang performed in two lovely dances. The Gesar Ling Dro dance group performed their magnificent warrior dances several times, building a wondrous mandala of peace and light for everyone present. H.E. Namkha Drimed Rinpoche and Gyetrul Jigme Rinpoche, as well as several monks, were present in the tent for most of these performances.

The groom's family enjoys Rinpoche's yard (L to R: Bruce, Lisa, Anita)

Several western visitors also performed much to everyone's good humor and delight. Carlo Pusterla sang some Italian songs. Alan Goldstein's family members sang a Beatles song. Mark from England performed a hilarious satire of the Black Hat Dance and other traditional Tibetan dances.

The first day of celebration was for guests and the second day was a party for the workers. All told, the kitchen fed between 700 and 800 per meal and there were some 110 people who volunteered their time to work at the wedding. This was a very large and historic event in Orissa.

The main performance tent was very large and colorfully decorated for the festivities, including a running fluorescent light along the upper walls of the tent. At the front of the tent was a large beautiful throne holding a photo of the Dalai Lama and on the tent wall behind it was a large picture of the Potala palace. To the left of this throne was the stage, or ceremonial dias, on which was a three-sectioned sofa.

A peek into the wedding celebration tent

Workers begin to setup wedding tents	Chairs for the expected crowds	Preparations are nearing completion
Elaborate setup for wedding celebration	Dalai Lama throne and Potala backdrop for wedding celebration	Ceremonial dias for wedding party

The wedding celebration begins	Alan Goldstein

During the greeting ceremonies, Palmo and Alan sat together in the middle, while the mother of the groom and the mother of the bride sat at each side of them. The immediate family sat on chairs close beside them. The presentation of celebratory katas and gifts to them, by family and friends and community, went on for a very long time with katas stacked in huge piles, then removed, and more katas stacked in huge piles. The line was very long until everyone had a chance to go up and wish them well.

Alan's mother with family members (L to R: Anita, Lisa, Vickie, Bruce)

Delicious food was served in vast quantities to everyone present, including both lunch and dinner. A special temporary kitchen had been established behind the large celebration tents to manage all of the cooking and a lot of volunteers participated in the preparations.

The following is the actual program from the wedding events:

For the auspicious occasion of the marriage on Monday, the 26th of Feb. 2001 of SEMO SONAM PALMO to ALAN GOLDSTEIN

1. 9 A.M. reception of Bridge & groom on the "Ceremonial dias"
2. 9:15 A.M. traditional announcement of the "marriage"
3. 9:40 A.M. offering of Khata (Scarf) & gifts
4. 12 Noon to 2 P.M. Lunch Break
5. 2 P.M. till 5 P.M. Engage in leisure games. Tibetan wine song, puzzles & surprises!
6. 5:30 Dinner
7. 7 P.M. Cultural Song & dance performances (see below)
8. 9:30 P.M. a surprise "DJ" will present some of the hottest tracks.  Would you like to shake off your daytime calories!? Of course, this entirely depends on "The Final voice" whatever that may decree
9. Midnight, even if you are not tight, is time to sleep tight and make sure the mosquitoes don't bite otherwise you won't have a good night and things won't turn out alright! So have you got it or is it out of sight!?

Cultural Song and Dance performances

1. Ling Dro, the "Dance of the warrior" by the Ling Dro culture group
2. A performance by the Central School to Tibetans, branch
3. A performance by the 6th group of village no. 5
4. A performance by students from Camp no. 4
5. Ling Dro (next act)
6. Solo performance by Sonam Palkyi
7. A performance by youths from Camp no. 4
8. A performance by ladies from Camp no. 4
9. Ling Dro (next act)
10. A solo by Tsering Tsomo
11. A performance by ladies from Camp no. 4
12. A performance by the 6th group of Camp no. 5
13. A solo by Central School's dance teacher
14. Ling Dro (next act)
15. A performance by Central School for Tibetans
16. A performance by youths from Camp no. 4
17. Solo by Sonam Palzom
18. Ling Dro

The handsome men in Rinpoche's family, Lhosar 2001	A smiling monk at wedding ceremony	The beautiful women in Rinpoche's family, Lhosar 2001