Hundreds of tiny prayer flags in myriad hues adorn the walls of the Art Gallery at the India International Centre to celebrate the 80{+t}{+h}birthday of the XIV Dalai Lama. The gallery, for the next week, will be the hub of activity for people in the city celebrating the spiritual leader’s life and works.
The exhibition titled, ‘The World of his Holiness The Dalai Lama,’ takes viewers on a journey through a collection of 80 photographs carefully chosen to highlight his life right from his early days following the work he has been involved in and tracing his rise as a person of influence.
From photographs clicked with world leaders spanning across generations to places of importance where his speeches have made an impact, his travels and experiences captured in the frames are like a history lesson in 80 frames.
Each of the frames along with the caption has a relevant quotation by the leader so that visitors can put the photograph in context.
A short documentary film on his life as well as a video, with people from across the world wishing him on his birthday, make up the audio-visual part of the exhibit.
There are 13 Thangka scrolls on display of the Dalai Lamas as well as a well-preserved book containing Buddhist text. Copies of 15 Thangkas that were presented to the Dalai Lama in celebration of his birthday are also on display.
They portray various periods of his life through drawings and gives an artist’s take on his life.
Curator of the show Tenzin Lekshay says the entire Tibetan community in the city came together to plan the event to join similar celebration across the world. They want to spread the teachings of their leader, and tell people about his life and teachings through the exhibits.
“We hope that people will read the quotations that accompany the pictures and watch the documentaries that are being screened to educate themselves about the Nobel Prize-winning leader and maybe incorporate some of what they have learnt into their life,” says Tenzin.
The exhibition is being organised by the Bureau of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Tibetan community in Delhi in collaboration with India International Centre.
Apart from the exhibition of photos, Thangka painting scrolls, short documentary films and books authored by him, there will be a number of collateral events leading up to his birthday celebrations at Samyeling Tibetan Settlement on July 6.
On July 4, there will be a panel discussion on the Dalai Lama’s contribution to humanity chaired by Shyam Saran, Former Foreign Secretary. Those participating in the discussion at the IIC will be Geshe Dorji Damdul, Director Tibet House, Foreign Secretaries Lalit Mansingh and Shivshankar Menon and Former Union Minister Arun Shourie. On July 5, a walk for peace is being organised from Raj Ghat to Red Fort to spread the message of peace and non-violence.
The event at the Art Gallery, India International Centre, will be on till July 6.
