Prof. Dr. Karénina Kollmar-Paulenz (University of Bern) lectures on May 8-9, 2019

Prof. Dr. Karénina Kollmar-Paulenz (University of Bern, Switzerland) will deliver two lectures.

On May 8 at 16.15 will give a lecture titled „Every-day Religious Practices in Mongolia: Pilgrimage-tourism” (Ülikooli 16-215).

In the last decades Khamaryn Khiid and the nearby Shambhala Energy Centre, a fast growing Buddhist monastic site in the remote Gobi desert, has become one of the most popular pilgrimage sites in today’s Mongolia. The place draws Mongolian tourist-pilgrims as well as Western tourists who aim to combine ecologically inspired tourism with a spiritual journey. Based on recent fieldwork, the lecture examines the interplay of religion and tourism in the development of this global pilgrimage destination.

On May 9 at 14.15 will give a second lecture titled “Protector Deities in the public space: Religion and politics in the Tibetan exile-community” (Ülikooli 16-212)

Religion plays an important role in the public sphere of the Tibetan exile-community. It is particularly topical in the ritual performances of protector deities. Exploring the role of the so called dharma- protectors in the context of nation-building processes of the exile-government this lecture argues that the relationship between religion as an expression of private autonomy and its public staging as a symbol of national unity holds considerable potential for conflict for the institution of the Dalai Lamas.

Department of Estonian and Comparative FolkloreI

Information: Liilia Laaneman, liilia.laaneman [ät] ut.ee