NPR: The Gaddi People of Dharamsala
Part one of the four-part radio series on NPR Day to Day airs today: "The Gaddi People of Dharamsala." Archived audio, multimedia slideshow, and songs from Gaddi musicians are all here at npr.org: Link, and here's a direct link to the photos (Flash, includes music of Gaddi composer and musician Sunil Rana).
The nomadic Hindu tribe has dwelled in the shadows of the Himalayas in Northern India for countless generations. Before Tibetan refugees and Western tourists arrived, they were the dominant ethnic group -- but as development looms, their culture is changing.
Top image: (c) 2006, Xeni Jardin. En route to a ceremony honoring the local goddess of slate, a Gaddi woman in ceremonial dress paints holy symbols on rocks that line the path to Kanyara shrine.
Bottom: recording Gaddi musicians Sunil Rana (right, in blue shirt) and Hans Chohan (left, in white shirt), at Sunil's family home in the village of Satobri, near Dharamshala in Northern India.
Technorati Tags: Dharamshala, Gaddi, India, radio, television
6 Comments:
Xeni,
I'll be in Delhi and then in Dharamsala and McLeod Ganj in the next few weeks. (August 21 - 31).
I appreciate any traveler's hints or must-sees that you list.
Part of my time will be visiting with the folks from the Tibetan Technology Center, the Tibetan Children's Villages, Tibetan Multi-Education Center and Tibetan sites hosted at ibiblio.org.
In Delhi, I'll be at the Red Hat (India) and Indian Institute of Technology Symposium "Owning the Future" about Open Source etc as you might have guessed.
Hi, Paul! You're going to have a wonderful trip, I'm sure. I'll be posting much of that information here in coming days!
Your piece reminds me of a great film I saw at MountainFilm in Telluride... it was a film about an exiled Tibetan woman who travels back to Tibet with a small portable DVD player to bring a personal video message of hope from the Dalai Lama to rural villages. The effect the message has on the people is dramatic. For many, it's the first time in 50 years they even know their spiritual leader is alive. Powerful stuff.
Good luck with your piece. Look forward to reading more!
i'd love to know the name of that film, magdalenus. i am always amazed when people do not realize how dangerous such an innocent sounding act like hers is in modern day tibet where photos of his holiness the dalai lama are considered contraband.
Wonderful information and stunning snaps with sweet music!
Thanks for refreshing the memories!
http://himachal.us
The film is called "What Remains of Us". Do see it if you can.
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