Say a Little Prayer

by Jessie Ammons
Photos courtesy of Vansana Nolintha

The hopes and dreams of Raleighites who would like the Dalai Lama to visit our capital city made their way to Dharamsala, India last month via Mayor Nancy MacFarlane. About a year ago, a “Dalai Lama Initiative Committee” was formed by Raleigh citizens and the mayor in an effort to bring the 14th Dalai Lama to Raleigh. The group’s initial proposal was well-received, and warranted an invitation for the mayor and other committee members to meet with the monk to discuss it in person in Dharamsala. Inspired by the cause, Vansana Nolintha of Bida Manda restaurant and Sarah Yarborough and Victor Lytvinenko of Raleigh Denim hosted a prayer flag signing afternoon at Dix Park April 30. With the Raleigh skyline as a backdrop, Raleghites were invited to write their thoughts and prayers on the Tibetan-style prayer flags, which Mayor MacFarlane carried with her on her trip. “Our goal is that the garland of flags will serve as our collective prayer to the Dalai Lama,” Nolintha says, “expressing our aspirations, as a gift from our community, and as a physical invitation to His Holiness to make a visit to our beloved city.”