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Spectacular Milarepa show on first day of 2010

By Lobsang Wangyal | Tibet Sun

The stage designed by the Karmapa for a theatrical show on the life of Milarepa was performed in the evening of 1 January 2010 in Bodh Gaya, India.Tibet Sun/Lobsang Wangyal/India

A spectacular theatrical show on the life of Milarepa was staged to celebrate the conclusion of the 27th Kagyu Monlam (prayer festival) in Bodh Gaya, on the evening of the first day of 2010.

The drama, displayed in a world class set-up, was written, directed and produced by the Karmapa.

The artistes of the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts had been cast for the show, which was synced by a technical team from Hong Kong.

An estimated 25,000 to 30,000 people were said to be in the audience. The show was broadcast live online at the Kagyu Monlam website.

The artistes performed flawlessly on the spacious stage decorated with an illuminated lotus and a tree in the middle. On each side of the stage were 250 monks. The lighting uplifted the stage in the right way, but the sound was slightly out of sync as there was a bit of echo problem.

Five hours later, at 12 midnight, the show came to a close. The Karmapa thanked all those who were involved in the show, particularly TIPA and Suja Tibetan Children’s Village School, whose students performed a dance show.

The Karmapa is said to have been working on the show for a long time.

Milarepa (c. 1052—c. 1135 CE) is considered one of Tibet’s most famous yogis and poets, and is a major figure in the history of the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism.

Copyright © 2010 Tibet Sun

Published in Tibet Sun