Shambala 2026 Friday

Hepopa Shambhala – harmmony love and peace abound, aplenty!

Leeliu and I arrived on the 1st opening day with crowds of enthusiastic festival goers entering this stunning venue of the 14th year of „Shambhala in Your Heart“ 10-day festival in Chiang Dao, Thailand.

There was an immediate feeling of harmony, warm hearted welcoming It was clean, well organised, relaxed, with free water for all. Such a friendly and warm energy was present – a feeling of family / rainbow gathering, Japanese style.

With Leeliu’s sister friend from Hong Kong, Japanese drum community leader Kumi leading the amazing opening ceremony, inviting all to adopt and embrace the spirit of „Hepopa“ – a unique heartwarming universal greeting coined by the festival, used to mean multiple positive sentiments, including „hello“, „thank you“, „sorry“, „I love you“, „gooddbye“.

A term intended to connect people in a community-oriented atmosphere, encouraging all to be respectful, kind and honouring of each other, the local surroundings and village.

Through the drumbeat and sounds of peoples uniting together in playful spirit with the stunning landscape of Mother Nature, it was a spirited evening of Harmony, Love & Peace.

Enjoy this beauty!