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The Dalai Lama, at 89, raises concerns about Tibetan culture preservation and his successor. Exiled Tibetans fear losing their identity without him. Despite his age, the Dalai Lama remains active in advocating for Tibetan autonomy. He has been crucial in keeping Tibetan culture alive outside Tibet, establishing schools and cultural institutions. His global recognition includes winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989. However, concerns arise about his successor in Tibetan Buddhism. The Dalai…

Cham dance is a sacred performance in Tibetan Buddhism, performed by monks during festivals to honor deities and ward off negative forces. Dancers wear elaborate costumes and masks, representing wrathful deities, protector spirits, and animals. The ritual, set to traditional music, conveys spiritual stories of good overcoming evil and serves as a blessing for the community. Performed in monastery courtyards, the Cham dance symbolizes purification, protection, and spiritual renewal, while…

Qinghai Tibetan costumes are a type of traditional clothing worn by the Tibetan people living in Qinghai Province, China. They are influenced by the unique geographical environment, climate, and religious belief of the Tibetan people, and reflect their distinctive culture and aesthetic taste. Qinghai Tibetan costumes have many styles, materials, and decorations, depending on the region, gender, and occasion. They are a vivid expression of the Tibetan people’s culture and spirit. #costumes

Once used as a form of communication—to share one’s relationship status or religious affiliation—108 Braids is now also a tribute to the region’s heritage.

A young monk running around a Buddhist prayer wheel at Boudhanath stupa in Kathmandu, Nepal.

China - Tibetan Counties of Yunnan / Zhongdian means the 'middle valley', a place below the snow peaks but above the grassland where the growing season is very short and only half-breed yaks can survive in the meadows. Beijing has renamed the town Shangri-La, the famed oasis in the novel 'The Lost Horizon'. Only they can't say the name in English, so they officially call it Xiangelila. This is a cultural centre for Kham Tibetans, and the towns surrounding the city are rich in the living…