Himalayan Festival celebrates culture and raises funds for quake relief

The Festival of Arts grounds turned into a celebration of Himalayan culture Saturday and Sunday.

About 7,800 visitors enjoyed cultural traditions of Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan and India, including folk dances, ethnic food, art and music, during the city’s second Himalayan Festival.

The organizing committee, made up of Southern California residents, orchestrated the festivities with support from Laguna Beach’s Neighborhood Congregational Church.

“The event objective is to bring Southern California people together in a festive environment, and it also offers a platform for a large number of people to observe and experience a rich cultural heritage of Himalayan regions,” according to a description on the church’s website. “This event could extend and strengthen cultural ties between Himalayan regions, diaspora communities, and people from Southern California.”

Proceeds from admission sales paid for the cost of renting the venue, with leftover money going to relief efforts in Nepal following last year’s 7.8-magnitude earthquake, said Dhondup Tsering, one of the event organizers. More than 8,000 people died as a result of the quake.