Dalai Lama Greets Shoton Festival Performers

Nearly 500 Tibetan opera performers met the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala during the 28th Shoton Festival, hosted by the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA). Each troupe offered traditional songs and prayers, with messages of devotion, cultural pride, and wishes for His Holiness’s long life. Addressing the gathering, the Dalai Lama reminisced about Lhamo performances in Norbulingka and emphasized Tibetans’ enduring spirit and identity. Recalling travels in China, he spoke of Tibetan resilience and reaffirmed his commitment to preserving Tibetan culture and Buddhism. “Our cause is just,” he said, expressing confidence in a hopeful outcome.