Dalai Lama’s 89th Birthday Celebrated as ‘Universal Day of Compassion’ in Siliguri

On July 6, the followers of the Dalai Lama gathered at the Kalchakra Monastery in Siliguri, West Bengal, to celebrate his 89th birthday. This day has been declared the ‘Universal Day of Compassion’ by the Asian Buddhist Conference for Peace (ABCP) to honor the Dalai Lama’s contributions to global peace and harmony.

Large crowds participated in the celebrations, which included prayers for the Dalai Lama’s long life, cutting a birthday cake, and cultural performances. Sanam Ninduk Lama, Chief Secretary of the Himalayan Buddhist Cultural Organisation, expressed joy over the celebrations and emphasized the importance of the Dalai Lama’s message of peace and compassion.

Prerena Waling, a Buddhist follower, mentioned that the Dalai Lama’s birthday will be celebrated in a grand manner every year as the ‘Universal Day of Compassion’. The Dalai Lama, born on July 6, 1935, in Tibet, was recognized as the reincarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama at the age of two. He has lived in India since 1959 after fleeing Tibet and has been a prominent advocate for peace and autonomy for Tibet.