International Cultures Parade in NYC
RTWA, NY & NJ [Saturday June 23, 2007]
The Regional Tibetan Women's Association of New York and New Jersey, Inc. (RTWA, NY & NJ) coordinated the 22nd Annual International Cultures Parade for the fifth consecutive year. The parade in large is organized and sponsored by the International Immigrants Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organization at the United Nations.
Countries such as Bolivia, Morocco, Vietnam, Brazil, Egypt, Bangladesh, Romania, Albania, Haiti, Jamaica, Ecuador, Japan, Poland, Thailand, Sudan, Taiwan, Mexico and many more showcased their culture along with the Tibetans. The Tibetan faction, consisting of over 300 people, marched shoulder to shoulder with rest of the parade-goers from various countries.
A beautiful young girl led the Tibetan group with a plaque that read, ‘International Immigrants Foundation presents TIBET’, followed by a Tibetan Buddhist monk blowing Dhungchen, huge Tibetan religious trumpet, being carried by a small boy on his slender shoulder. The Presidents from the three major organizations of New York and New Jersey: The Tibetan Community, Regional Tibetan Youth Congress, and The Tibetan Women’s Association in their best Tibetan costumes followed His Holiness’ portrait. Along each side of the portrait were a flag of the United States and Tibet. Dressed in colorful and vibrant costumes depicting the rich and distinct culture of Tibet; man and women in Do-Toe, Do-Med, and U-Tsang dresses added extra brightness to an amazing Saturday afternoon weather of New York. Young Tibetans danced the Tibetan auspicious opera dance, Tashi Sholpa on the loud drum beats, while the others sang along the Tibetan music being played from the parade float.
A parade float, reminiscent to Lhagyal Ri, with Buddhist religious prayer-flags, women in costumes from the three provinces of Tibet, a Yak, Tibetan national animal, were truly a remarkable example which portrayed Tibet as serene people with vast devotion to Buddhism. The Tibetan parade goers carried Tibetan National flags, American flags, a map of Tibet, Tibetan religious signs, and various beautiful Tibetan symbols.
The Annual International Cultures Parade is the only Parade in New York City that showcases the multicultural heritage expression of over 100 communities: giant floats, folkloric dances and music, performers in native costumes, marching bands and contingents, and international pavilions. Thousands of performers participate in this annual salute to the multicultural nature of U.S.A. Unlike many parades, this is "A Trip around the World in One Day." Each cultural group performs along the Parade's route to the delight of the spectators. This event is unique and offers every cultural group the opportunity to participate.
Not only were the spectators enticed with the music but so were the young Tibetans, who knew each and every word of the songs played and sang loud along with the recording, while the elders marched on proud fully representing Tibet. The Yak dancing to the rhythm of music fast became a crowd favorite. One can tell the admiration other nations had for the Tibetans and Tibet as they shouted "We love Tibet" and "We love you Tibetans, while carrying a small Tibetan National flag in the hand and cheering up from behind the parapets.
The parade culminated at 56th street and the Avenue of Americas with that earsplitting announcement from the parade organizers in the heart of the New York City, "Ladies and Gentleman, now we have the members of Tibetan Community in New York representing the beautiful country TIBET".
Our cheerful and jubilant Tibetans made a huge circle on the middle of the street and presented to onlookers some beautiful Gorsheys, Tibetan circle dance, followed by Tashi So, a concluding dance wishing everyone happiness and prosperity.
