The
King of Ladakh, the children
and
the mountains, 15-10-2010
To
have a real king from the highest mountains of the world come to visit
a village in deepest schwabian country was a magnet for visitors to
take the time to come and listen to the reading of Karola Kostial
about the book she wrote about Ladakh. The meeting took place on October
15, 2010 in a beautifully renovated old restaurant now called "Culture
Café Original". Maybe it was also the exceptional program
that drew the visitors, a program that promised fine entertainment:
Slides presentation about the years of work of Karola Kostial in Ladakh,
film about the work of Ladakh-Hilfe/REWA, tibetan food and chai, music
by Gaiana Glatz-Ice with sounding bowls, monochord and tibetan bells,
reports from Anjali Treff, a volunteer that has worked in Ladakh 2009.
The hall of the meeting place was filled with more than 170 people,
some visitors were turned away because there was not even standing
room left. Everybody enjoyed the evening, thouroughly feasted with
eyes, ears and the belly...
The
meeting hall was full
Prayer flags decorated the walls of the meeting hall, tibetan incense
and many candles promised a special night, helped the spectators to
immerse into the activities of a country so far from our our German
perception. With her book "The other side of Ladakh - Adventures
in the Indian Himalayas" (available only in German) the author
talks about her experiences in a country that has also been called
"little Tibet". With impressive pictures suported by tibetan
background music she managed to take the guests away into a country,
where Buddhism is the main religion, into a land of the high passes,
into a land where people with disabilities (especially children) are
experiencing life changing help by the German association Ladakh-Hilfe
and the local NGO Rewa Society.
Karola
Kostial reads from her book and moderates the evening
The König of Ladakh, H.E. Jigmet Namgyal, had come to Germany
for the first time to speak in behalf of the preservation and restoration
of the old art and cultural treasures of Ladakh. On 23. of October
2010 he will help open an exhibition about old art and culture of
Tibet and Ladakh in the Linden-Museum in Stuttgart. The employees
of his institute Nirlac had been working together with Ladakh-Hilfe
starting 2003 for quite a few years, driving out into the remote areas,
looking for and finding the hidden special children, taking care of
them. He himself realized one of his visions for the disabled by building
the first integrative hostel of Ladakh right outside of Stock. Normal
and special children live there and go to school together. Ladakh-Hilfe/Rewa
stills works there today and takes care of the special children. The
king also did a great work setting up a program helping young adults
with disabilities to obtain training and work, so they could be able
to earn some money for their families.
Karola
Kostial was in Ladakh as the terrible flood struck in August 2010
and she and Mr. Jigmet Namgyal met to discuss how to help the people
of Ladakh and to plan the meeting in Germany.
The
king of Ladakh, H.E. Jigmet Namgyal reports about his work in ladakh
He
answers many questions and gives autogramms
In Wettenhausen the king talked about his work in culture and arts,
answered questions (for example if he wears a crown sometimes...),
signed autographs and mixed with the German people who were eager
to have a word with him, shake his hands. They took many of the flyers
about his work with the monasteries in Ladakh and showed a lot of
interest for his projects.
Impressive
pictures shown by Karola Kostial about the flood disaster in Ladakh
this summer gave the visitors an impression of the suffering of the
people and also showed the efforts of Ladakh-Hilfe/Rewa Society to
help the people in many ways with trauma therapy, financial aid and
food for an entire village for the winter.
She
showed pics and a film about the newst happenings of the work with
the children in Ladakh and explained the plans to build a new base
in Kargil district to work with the special children in this area.
Gaiana
is playing with soundig bowls and creates a magic ambience. Gaiana
has lived in India for a year and has also visited Ladakh
Anjali
Treff talkes about Ladakh
Anjali
Treff from Burgau spoke from the heart as she talked about her time
in Ladakh 2009 as a volunteer for Ladakh-Hilfe/Rewa. With her excellent
work and professional conduct the had left an lasting impression in
the hearts and minds of all local and children involved in Ladakh
Some of the vistors were ex-volunteers and future volunteers. They
got toghether to exchange thoughts and experiences.
The
many helpers of the German NGO Ladakh-Hilfe worked very hard to make
it possible for everyone of the guests to eat a bowl of then-tuck,
a chapati and some chai during the break.
Our
new standing posters in German
An interesting story was told by four Günzburger adventurers
that attended the evening. They visited Ladakh in September 2010 and
looked for the center that Karola Kostial had opened, since they knew
about it from our local newspaper in Günzburg. They did find
it an come just in time to help the volunteers and the local employees
with the construction of the new S.I. park for the children in front
of the RAC down town Leh. They enjoyed their time in Ladakh very much
and joyfully related that story to the surprised author.
Visitors
on the balkony
