Thousands Join Tibetan Traditional Dress Parade from Place Passédelup to Place de la Bastille

The Tibetan National Identity Protection Week, observed across France between 21 and 27 September, culminated in a vibrant parade that highlighted the community’s cultural resilience.

On 23 September, a sang‑sol ceremony was performed at the Pagode de Vincennes with monks and local volunteers offering incense and prayers. The Lha‑Kar festival saw about 400 participants enjoying Tibetan cuisine, traditional garments, rope‑pulling games, and the gor‑she competition.

During the weekend, schools organised special sessions for children, teaching them about Tibetan rituals, Buddhist teachings and the Dalai Lama’s life story through interactive lessons.

The highlight on 27 September was a march that stretched from Place Passédelup to Place de la Bastille. More than a thousand demonstrators, dressed in the distinctive costumes of their native Tibetan regions, walked together under the joint coordination of six Tibetan organisations in Paris.

Community leader Pema Rinchen addressed the crowd, emphasizing the march’s purpose of cultural affirmation. Thupden Tsering, the Paris Bureau du Tibet coordinator, read a message from Central Tibetan Administration President Penpa Tsering, stressing the importance of dedicating the fourth week of September to safeguarding Tibetan identity.

Alongside the march, a cultural exhibition and group prayer reinforced the commitment to protect the Tibetan language, heritage and national identity for both present and future generations.