Starting tonight, Taipei's Ta-an Park will play host to an extravaganza of Tibetan culture. "This is the first time we have tried to organize such an event," said Chou Chung-chun (周崇群) of the Ta-an District Administration Office. "Political considerations aside, [Taiwanese] are all Chinese, and Tibetan culture is something that most Taiwanese are not so familiar with." The festival is aimed at remedying this unfamiliarity. The focal point of the event is the display of a massive tanka measuring 14.5m in length by 9m in width. "I don't know if it's the best tanka, but it may be the biggest," Chou said. The Ta-an Administrative Office worked with the Mongolian and Tibetan Cultural Center (蒙藏文化中心) and various Buddhist groups to get the event on the road. "If this event works out, we may have a chance of doing a Mongolian cultural event next year. It is all important cultural interchange." The event starts off this evening when a number of preparatory events take place before the tanka is unrolled tomorrow morning at 10am. Chou said the timing of the event did not coincide with any particular Buddhist festival, and that its purpose was primarily to promote understanding of Tibetan culture. "Representatives of many Buddhist sects are expected to attend," Chou said, and if the faithful come in large numbers, up to 30,000 people may participate. In addition to the religious events, there will also be exhibitions of food, clothing and other aspects of daily Tibetan life.
WHAT Taipei Tibetan Festival (台北看西藏 - 大安曬大佛)
WHEN Today 5pm to 9pm; Tomorrow 9:30am to 9pm; Sunday 10am to 5:30pm
WHERE Ta-an Park, Taipei (台北大安森林公園)
For more information, contact the Ta-an District Administration Office at tel: (02) 2351-1711 ext. 8207
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