Dharamshala: Chief guest Pema Jugney, Speaker of Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile and Guest of honour Health Kalon Choekyong Wangchuk attended the closing ceremony of the 23rd Himalayan festival to commemorate the conferment of the Nobel Peace Prize on His Holiness the Dalai Lama at Tsuglagkhang.

The standing committee of Tibetan parliament, ITFA president, dignitaries were present at the closing ceremony.

The two-day Himalayan festival was jointly organised by Indo-Tibetan Friendship Association (ITFA) and Tibetan Settlement Office, Dharamshala.

Chief guest Pema Jugney in his address recollects aims and objectives of ITFA that is to bring different cultures and people across on a common forum and foster understanding, appreciation, exchanges and dialogue among the people of the region.

He further emphasised on the efforts made by ITFA in bringing social harmony and peacefully within the community.

He said, “We have lived harmoniously and worked together and will do that in future too.”

Guest of honour Health Kalon Choekyong Wangchuk recollect him being present at few occasion of the Himalayan festival and applaud the works of ITFA in organising this festival.

He reminds about the importance of maintaining cordial relations and helping each other in preserving the rich traditions and culture.

He further lauded the joint efforts of the two communities to make this festival a success for the last so many years and added that the affinity that the two communities have for each other with the blessings of His Holiness.

The two-day festival featured cultural performances of Nepali, Tibetan, Punjabi, and local Gaddi folk songs and dances.

Tibet Museum stalls showcased exhibition titled ‘ Indo-Tibet Relations; Ancient Ties and Current Bond’. There also was a Medical camp and expo by Men-Tsee Khang.

The festival was started in 1995 to commemorate the international recognition of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s peace initiatives with the prestigious Nobel Prize for peace on 10 December 1989. It is aimed at bringing different cultures and people across the Himalayas on a common forum, and foster understanding, appreciation, exchanges, and dialogue among the people of the region.