Singing My Life: The Story of Kongar-ool Ondar, Legendary Throat Singer from Tuva by Valentina Suzukei

Author:Valentina Suzukei
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw
Publisher: Bapalar
Published: 2014-08-31T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

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Meetings with the Dalai Lama

The official delegation from Tibet visited Tuva in September 1992. The visit has been regarded as a major turning point in the cultural life of the republic, and marked a resurgence of spirituality and Buddhism in the entire population. The highlight of the visit was the arrival of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama.

Kongar-ool and Tyva Ensemble were part of the group that met the delegation at the airport. They performed several songs for the honored guest right there at the airport. Kongar-ool was even lucky enough to touch the spiritual figure.

Their second meeting was in San Francisco in 1994. At that event, Venera Khuragan-ool made her way to the front with her child in her arms. As he was leaving the stage, His Holiness came to the edge and rubbed the child’s head. Venera was in tears, but she was grateful. The next day, her daughter would be having an operation, as part of an effort organized by Friends of Tuva.

The third meeting also took place at a Tibetan gathering in San Francisco. Kongar-ool was once again with Roko and they were sitting in the front row. They happened to sit near the door where the Dalai Lama came out.

Kongar-ool came up to him and said in Russian, “I am from Tuva. I am a musician.”

The Dalai Lama smiled, formed his lips as if he was singing khoomei, and pointed at his throat.

In 2003, he met the Dalai Lama for the fourth time. This time, they were in New Delhi for the 10th anniversary of Buddha Jayanti Park. The park was increasingly becoming neglected, and a large homeless population had taken up residence. The warm climate let them sleep outside, and their numbers were almost in the thousands. The Dalai Lama commented on the threatened ecological state of the city and proposed an initiative to redevelop the park. It has since been cleaned up, and a large Buddha was erected, encouraging people to respect the space. After the talk, the Dalai Lama met with representatives of different countries. Kongar-ool was the only representative from Russia, and he presented His Holiness with a stone carving of a Tuvan boy riding a yak, crafted by one of his students.

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