Indians and Tibetans Celebrate Dalai Lama’s 89th Birthday in Shimla

In Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, people from the Tibetan community, including elders, young women, monks, and students, along with Indians, gathered at the Tibetan school in Chhota Shimla to celebrate the 89th birthday of the 14th Dalai Lama. The event saw participation from the Indian Buddhist community and local residents.

The celebration featured traditional Tibetan folk dances and Indian cultural performances by Tibetan students, which captivated everyone present. Onkar Chand Sharma, the Additional Chief Secretary of the state government, presided over the program.

Tsewang Phuntsok, Chief Representative Officer of the Central Tibetan Administration, emphasized the importance of the Dalai Lama to the Tibetan community, describing him as a living Buddha and a symbol of peace and kindness. He noted that the Dalai Lama’s birthday is celebrated by Tibetans worldwide, and they pray for his long life through cultural and religious celebrations.

V S Negi, a Himalayan Buddhist, highlighted the Dalai Lama’s role in spreading Buddhism in Tibet and promoting peace and compassion globally. He also mentioned the Dalai Lama’s efforts in preserving Buddhist and Himalayan culture in educational institutions in the Himalayan region.

Onkar Chand Sharma expressed his wishes for the Dalai Lama’s good health and long life on behalf of the Himachal Pradesh government and its people. He stressed the importance of spreading the Dalai Lama’s message of peace to everyone in society.

The 14th Dalai Lama, born on July 6, 1935, in Takster, northeastern Tibet, was recognized as the reincarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama at the age of two. He was formally installed as the head of the state of Tibet in 1940 and later named Tenzin Gyatso. The Dalai Lama assumed full political powers in 1950 but was forced into exile in India in 1959 after the Chinese invasion of Tibet. For over six decades, he has been promoting peace, love, and compassion.