The Kalmyk Youth Coalition hosted a curated Zul celebration exclusively for children and their families at Tibet House on Friday, December 8th, 2023. Designed to foster unity and strengthen the bond within the newly arrived Kalmyk community in New York City, this event offered an immersive exploration and celebration of the Kalmyk national holiday of Zul, commemorating Lama Tsongkhapa’s parinirvana.
A lecture on the significance of the holiday was led by Chagdyr Sandzhiev, the former Chief of the Translation Department at the Central Kalmyk Buddhist Monastery. The event included guided prayers to Lama Tsongkhapa led by Geshe Tenzin Paljor. A key highlight was a hands-on workshop guided by Natasha and Baljira, where children learned the art of crafting Zul boats using playdough, a modern twist on the traditional boats made from dough and adorned with small sticks and cotton wool. The evening concluded with enchanting traditional Kalmyk dance and music performances by children from the Kalmyk Heritage Center. Guests enjoyed light offerings of the traditional Kalmyk dish “bortsg” accompanied by Kalmyk tea.
Head organizers of the Zul event:
Dechen Kelden, Zoya Froloff & Delgira Samtonova
Sponsored by:
This event was made possible through the generous sponsorship of the Kalmyk Pantry Initiative, with fiscal support provided by the Kalmyk Brotherhood Society.
Photography:
Tenzin Wangchuk
More information about Kalmyk Youth Coalition:
Established in 2015, the Kalmyk Youth Coalition is an organization dedicated to empowering young people within the Kalmyk diaspora. Serving as a platform for exploring Kalmyk identity, their mission is to be a valuable resource for the Kalmyk community. Through leadership development, education, and training, they aim to promote the historical understanding and the preservation of their language and culture. For any inquiries, please contact [email protected].
