News - Stories from the Foothills of the Himalayas – Norbulingka Institute of Tibetan Culture

Lhabab Duchen

Lhabab Duchen

In Tibetan, Lhabab Duchen means ‘Festival of the Descent from Heaven’. At the age of 41, the Buddha ascended to the Trayastrimsa heaven to give te...

Interviews with Traditional Craftsmen

Norbulingka has been training artisans in traditional crafts since 1995, giving new purpose and employment to many young Tibetans in exile. We inte...

Master Woodcarver

Choe Phuntsok (1923-2005) Choe Phuntsok was born in Ngamring, Tibet in the year 1923. He spent his early years on his family farm and then at the a...

Master Thangka Painter

Temba Chöphel (1959-2007) Temba Chophel was born in Lhasa in January 1959, two months before the Tibetan uprising, and the absorption of Tibet into...

Dharma Accessories

In Tibet, concern for the next life comes first, and much is invested in the spiritual. Until recently, all art work was spiritual in nature, as wa...

Chokhor Duchen

Chokhor Duchen, celebrated on the fourth day of the sixth Tibetan month is one of four major Buddhist holidays. It marks the Buddha’s first turning...

Appliqued Thangka at Norbulingka

Applique is an ancient art from Central Asia. The earliest examples, found in Hun tombs, were felt decorative and utilitarian objects. Later dated ...

Message from Norbulingka

Sagadawa is coming soon. It marks the Buddha’s birthday and is the holiest day of the year, falling on the 15thof the 4thmonth on the Tibetan lunar...

Birds & Fish of Norbulingka

Norbulingka’s lush gardens teem with bird life. Originally terraced fields that grew wheat in winter and rice in summer, they were bordered with an...

Women in Tibetan Buddhism

Women’s day is a day for celebration; and one to reflect on their role and place in Tibetan society. Tibetan religious culture has a unique place f...

The Great Prayer Festival

The Great Prayer Festival, or Monlam Chenmo, was established by Je-Rinpoche, or Tsong Khapa, in Lhasa in 1409. The timing, the first two weeks of t...

Losar - Tibetan New Year

Losar marks the first day of the first month of the Tibetan lunar calendar; a time to put behind the negative aspects of the old year, make resolut...

Appliqué at Norbulingka

Norbulingka developed the art of applique in a unique way, using traditional motifs to create vibrant pieces for the home. Applique is an ancient c...