A meeting of cultures as monks visit stately home
A GROUP of Tibetan monks is holding a five-day event giving an insight into their culture at a Yorkshire stately home.
The visit to Harewood House in Leeds is part of a five-month UK journey marking 60 years since His Holiness the Dalai Lama left Tibet.
However, the monks have a special and longstanding relationship with the stately home and estate following the current eighth Earl’s visit to Bhutan in 2002 and it has a unique ‘enlightenment Stupa’, built in 2004 by monks from the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan.
David Lascelles, Earl of Harewood said: “I’m delighted Harewood is hosting a visit from the monks of Tashi Lhunpo.
“Since the building of the Harewood Stupa we’ve been lucky enough to welcome many distinguished Lamas from India, Tibet and Nepal.
“This is a special year for all Tibetans – 60 years since the Dalai Lama had to leave his homeland for India, followed by many thousands of refugees, and we hope that visitors will enjoy celebrating and helping to keep alive their unique and very special culture.”
On Saturday, eight monks built a Sand Mandala in The Stables of The Courtyard.
The intricate picture, made entirely of grains of coloured sand, was blessed before it is swept away on Thursday into the Himalayan Gardens at the base of the Stupa or Bhuddist Temple.