Sept. 17-19, the Tibetan Cultural Center (TCC) and the Chamtse Ling Interfaith Temple in Bloomington, Ind., will host an International Mongolian Festival. An array of exciting activities is scheduled during this three-day event, beginning with an Opening Concert at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 17. This program will feature a diversity of music performed by artists from around the world.

Events on Saturday, Sept. 18, are scheduled from 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and include Mongolian, Tibetan and Native American musical offerings, youth performances and Mongolian contortionists. Elaine Irwin Mellencamp will participate in and serve as spokesperson for all festival youth activities.

On Saturday, 7 p.m., a fund-raiser dinner will be held in the Main Building of the TCC to promote the mission of the Chamtse Ling Interfaith Temple. Attendees will have an opportunity to meet the festival’s performing artists and to enjoy traditional Mongolian and Tibetan cuisine. Seating is limited for the dinner event. The donation is $150 per plate, payable in advance. For additional information on this dinner, call 812-331-0014.

Events on Sunday, Sept. 19 are scheduled from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Grand Champion Mongolian wrestlers will meet in a match from 10:30-11:30 a.m. Other events on Sunday include a Mongolian archery demonstration and Mongolian musical performances. From 2-3 p.m., a religious talk will be given by the most highly revered Mongolian Abbot, Venerable Ch. Dambajav Khamba Lama of the Dashchoiling Monastery in Mongolia. Finally, from 3-4 p.m., the Venerable Jigdal Dagchen Sakya Rinpoche will offer a Buddhist teaching focusing on interfaith and intercultural paths to world peace. Rinpoche’s teaching is entitled “Two Armed Vajrapani Empowerment Related to 8 Bodhisattvas.” Rinpoche is one of the spiritual leaders of the Sakya branch of Tibetan Buddhism, one of the four main schools of Tibetan Buddhist practice.

All events for this exciting, unique festival will take place on stage under an open-air tent on the TCC grounds. A variety of ethnic foods and crafts will be sold onsite during each day of the festival.

Tickets are available at the gate: Opening Concert: $25; full-day admission for Saturday events is $40 ($30 for Mongolians and Tibetans) and $20 ($15 for Mongolians and Tibetans) for Sunday events. Children 10 and under are free. A complete schedule of events can be obtained at www.tibetancc.com.