Cultural Preservation

Friends of Dolpa

Dolpa Region

Tapriza School

Dunai School

Cultural Preservation Projects
Around the world indigenous groups are at risk of losing their cultural inheritance. Many of Dolpa's original cultures are still largely intact, and village leaders are interested in preserving their traditions. This presents an opportunity to support the people in repairing old structures and maintaining traditional skills. Friends of Dolpa has supported several Phoksumdo village projects, with the community always contributing more that half the costs.

Chorten Repair
Chortens are structures built to honor a Buddha, protect a village or gain spiritual merit. They are often seen at the boundaries of villages and are an important part of a place's identity. Since 1996, Phoksumdo communities have repaired three major and seven minor chortens, some over five hundred years old.

Rigmo Monastery
Situated on turquoise Phoksumdo Lake, this ancient monastery functions as the center of life in Rigmo village. A new community structure required a large carved bookshelf in 1999, painting the shelf in 2000 and traditional clay statues created in 2001. Abbott Senduk Nyima Lama employed local artisans, woodworkers and painters, who transferred their skills and interest in these arts.

Traditional Dance Costumes
Bonpo Festivals include colorful dance performances by monks (Lamas) and community members. Gompa Village in Phoksumdo was badly in need of new dance clothing. Sewing costs of several new costumes was supported by Friends of Dolpa. Village artists made new dance masks to match.

Thangka Painting
Thangkas are stylized Tibetan paintings. An expert painter, Yungdrung Yeshe Lama, shared his knowledge with six young adults during three winters, from 1999 - 2001 teaching them skills that will enable them to carry on their elderly teacher's work. The students repaired crumbling paintings inside several chortens and donated time to painting a new bookshelf in Rigmo Monastery as their contribution

Hurikot MonasteryHurikot valley shares cultural and trading ties with Phoksumdo. The small original structure, built by Abbott Nyima Wozer Lama, was joined by a new main hall begun in 1998. improvements continue yearly with beautiful traditional wood carvings, clay statues and Thangka paintings.