West Marin Himalayan Festival August 19, 2006

THE WEST MARIN HIMALAYAN FESTIVAL
@ THE SAN GERONIMO VALLEY COMMUNITY CENTER
6350 Sir Francis Drake Blvd. San Geronimo
(Read more about it in Friday's Marin Independent Journal and check out the details and links below).
Saturday, August 19 from 11am-5pm
Tickets at the door: Adults $8-15 sliding; Kids 3 and up $5;
Families of 3 or more $20.
A limited number of discounted advance tickets to the West Marin Himalayan Festival are on sale at Good Earth Natural Foods in Fairfax!

Highlights in order of appearance:
A Tibetan Buddhist Blessing performed by Ven. Dhubthob Rinpoche who is visiting us from Nepal. He is one of the last living spiritual masters from Tibet. He is the founder of the Manjushri Di-Chen Buddhist Learning Center (www.gompaworks.org ) in Nepal that many Valley students have have participated in a pen-pal program with for the last seven years. He previously performed a blessing at our Community Center at a Zero concert in 1999.
Interactive workshop with Kirtan singer Uma Reed (well-known for Ram Dass and Swami Vishwananda retreat performances) accompanied by Matt Packard on guitar. Plus: Himalayan storyteller Shivaya will tell stories interspersed throughout the workshop. Kirtan is call and response devotional chanting from the bhakti yoga tradition; no singing voice or experience required. Learn more about the beautiful Kirtan tradition: http://www.umareed.com/services.asp?service=What+is+Kirtan%3F
Young artists from the world-famous Ali Akbar College of Music (www.AACM.com ): 14-year old wunderkind Gaayatri Kaundinya (performed North Indian Classical music at the S.F. Asian Art Museum and the S.F. World Music Festival) and up and coming Tabla sensation (and Jazz drummer) 17-year old Nilan Chaudhuri (seen at AACM Indian Music Festivals, played with Alam Khan).
The Tibetan Association of Northern California's (www.tanc.org ) Children's Group's engaging performance of traditional Tibetan song and dance.
Vandhana Dance Company featuring Megan Black (trained under Smt. Kumudini Lakhia, one of the foremost Kathak exponents in India today). VDC is a touring, professional, dance company featuring North Indian Kathak Dance and original, live, classical North Indian music. Choreographer, Megan Black is a gifted storyteller and has choreographed a wide range of items utilizing stories and poetry from many sources including the poetry of Hafiz, Rumi and Mirabai.Original music composed and performed by Ross Kent has accompanied Vandhana performances for many years. Learn more at: http://www.kathakdance.org/dance.html
Finale performance: Internationally-known vocalist Tsering Wangmo (http://www.songpeddler.com/TseringWangmo/) will join us for a special solo performance of traditional folk music. She studied at the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (founded by the 14th Dalai Lama right after Chinese occupation in order to preserve Tibetan folk culture). With her band Chaksam-Pa, she has played for crowds of up to 10,000 and performed in numerous venues including New York's Lincoln Center. She has shared the stage with Phillip Glass, Ray Davies (The Kinks), Laurie Anderson, Ziggy Marley and David Bowie and collaborated with Mill Valley-based musician Colin Farish. She is also known for founding the Tibetan Cultural Preservation Project through The Cultural Conservancy (www.nativeland.org ) and as an award-winning chef and author of Lhasa Moon Cook Book.
Throughout the day:
Delicious Tibetan Momos (dumplings) from Tibetan Association of Northern California and Indian food from Fairfax's Cafe Tandoori (read the raves at: http://www.marinij.com/dining/ci_3757486).
View an exhibit of Sanjay Saxena's (Destination Himalaya) photographs (as seen in numerous galleries and in Gov't of India tourism materials). More about Sanjay Saxena and the extrordinary travels his photographs document: http://www.destinationhimalaya.net/people/index.php#saxena
The Bay Area's best vendors and organizations: fantastic shopping including clothing, jewelry, carpets, henna art, household items, books and more! Unique gifts and unusual finds! Plus learn about the inspiring efforts of leading nonprofits.
And: prayer flag making, an opportunity to learn about Tibetan medicine, activities for kids, a kid's playroom and playground.
Our festival has a special emphasis on performances by youth who are bringing the precious traditions of the Himalayas into the future.

Host Committee: Sanjay Saxena, Sarina Raut, Hannah Doress, Susan Shannon, Debra Amerson, Tsering Gyurmey (Tibet Moon), Pnina Zoharah (Movement and Spirit)
Produced by: San Geronimo Valley Community Center and Himalaya Resource Center
Partial proceeds will support: Himalayan organizations in the Bay Area and Himalayan region.
The West Marin Himalayan Festival thanks Good Earth Natural Foods http://www.goodearthnaturalfoods.net and Fairfax Scoop for their generous support of this event!

Directions: From US 101, take the Central San Rafael Exit and turn West onto 3rd Street. Follow 3rd street west through San Rafael and turn Right onto Sir Francis Drake Blvd. Follow Sir Francis Drake Blvd. through the towns of San Anselmo and Fairfax. We are approximately 5 miles west of Fairfax. Pass the San Geronimo Valley Golf Course and keep going for another 1/4 mile. Turn into the 1st parking lot on your right. (Look out for the Community Center Marquee). (Under 1 hour from SF, Berkeley; Under 40 minutes from Petaluma, Bolinas.)
We are wheelchair accessible. (Most vendors will be on a grass surface). Please call 415-488-8888 #253 with any questions.

Closest Lodgings: Valley Inn (415) 488-0105. Camping: Samuel P. Taylor State Park 415-488-9897. From the east, we are en route to Point Reyes National Seashore.
Details and more events: HOTLINE 415-488-8888 #253; www.sgvcc.org

Official Website: http://www.sgvcc.org