Sikyong Penpa Tsering Graces the 66th Founding Anniversary of Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts and Its Yarkyi Festival

Dharamshala: On 27 August 2025, the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA) in Dharamshala celebrated its 66th founding anniversary with the annual summer Yarkyi festival in the Institute’s main auditorium. The event featured two competing teams, Ngonpa and Gyalu houses.

As part of a year-long celebration of the “Year of Compassion” commemorating His Holiness’s 90th birth anniversary, the cultural performances reflected the theme of compassion, featuring various songs, theatrical plays, and skits in tribute to patriots and prominent Tibetan figures.

Sikyong Penpa Tsering graced the event as the chief guest, accompanied by special guest Khenpo Sonam Tenphal, Speaker of Tibetan Parliament in Exile, and guest of honour Yeshi Wangmo, Chief Justice Commissioner of the Tibetan Supreme Justice Commission.

Among the other distinguished guests were Deputy Speaker Dolma Tsering Teykhang; Tibetan Justice Commissioners Dawa Phunkyi and Phagpa Tsering; Election Commissioner Lobsang Yeshi; Public Service Commissioner Karma Yeshi; Auditor General Tashi Topgyal; members of 17th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile; Secretaries of Central Tibetan Administration, and the representatives from the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

In his address, Sikyong Penpa Tsering commended the Institute for organising the event under the theme of compassion, in-alignment with the year-long declaration of the Year of Compassion. Sikyong emphasised that winning and losing are integral part of competition and one must not be disheartened by defeat. He also expressed concern about the declining of student enrolment at the Institute and encouraged current students to be fully committed to their programme in accordance with the Institute’s norms.

As the event drew to a close, the awards were presented to the respective recipients. This year, the Gyalu team emerged as the winner of the 66th Yarkyi Festival.