The 90th birthday celebrations of the 14th Dalai Lama began with warmth and devotion on Monday morning at Tsuglhakhang, the main temple in McLeodganj.
While his birthday is officially celebrated on July 6 as per the Gregorian calendar, it falls today according to the Tibetan lunar calendar; on the 5th day of the 5th month.
The opening ceremony was organised by members of the Domey (Amdo) community, hailing from the Tibetan region where the Dalai Lama was born. Though the week-long celebrations are being coordinated by the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), Monday’s event was a more intimate gathering hosted by the Domey community.
The Dalai Lama reached the temple premises in a golf cart. Hundreds of followers cam to extend their birthday wishes to him. The temple courtyard was packed as he made his way to the shrine.
The day’s celebrations included vibrant traditional Tibetan dance and music performances. Special prayers were organised for the Dalai Lama’s long life. Tibetan activists also addressed the gathering and highlighted the ongoing struggle for Tibetan freedom and the continued Chinese aggression in Tibet.
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