Dharamshala, July 7, 2015: Though the Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama is not present in his exile home city at Mecleodganj in Dharamsala on his 80th birthday, thousands gathered in and around the Main Tibetan Temple outside Dalai Lama’s house on Monday morning to celebrate His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama's 80th birthday. The Tibetan government-in-exile expressed the hope that the Chinese leadership would continue the dialogue process with the envoys of spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama.
"It is our hope that the Chinese leadership will soon understand and accept the middle-way approach to a mutually beneficial solution and continue the dialogue process with the envoys of the Dalai Lama as the only way to resolve the issue of Tibet," the Dharamsala-based Tibetan government-in-exile said in a statement on the occasion of the spiritual leader's 80th birthday.
Lobsang Sangay, democratically-elected political leader , The PM of the Tibetan exiled government here in this hill town said, “ the countrymen have long-standing demands for the return of the Dalai Lama to Lhasa and freedom for Tibetans.”
A total of 140 Tibetans have immolated themselves since 2008 in support of the demands.
Speakiing on the occasion, Penpa Tsering – Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile praised the Dalai Lama for his efforts of turning Tibetan leadership into a democracy, for the benefit of all TIbetans.
He said that the Dalai lama was born on the 5th day of the 5th month of the Wood-Hog Year in the Tibetan calendar's 16th Royal Sexantry, corresponding to the 6th day of July 1935, in Tagtser Village of Kumbum area in Domey Province as a son of father Choekyong Tsering and mother Tsering Dekyi.
He said,” His Holiness was only 16 years old, when he took leadership of Tibetans at that pivotal time. After coming into exile in India, he immediately began the process of turning Tibetan leadership into a democracy, for the benefit of all TIbetans. And finally, he has single handedly been responsible for the flourishing and spread of the Buddhist religion.”
"Finally, we pray that His Holiness the Dalai Lama live for a hundred aeons, that all his wishes be seen fulfilled with spontaneity, and that the just cause of Tibet be seen prevail with speediness."
The Central Tibetan Administration celebrated the Dalai Lama's 80th birthday as per Tibetan calendar on June 21. Despite restrictions, Tibetans inside Tibet also enthusiastically participated in celebrating the 80th birthday of the Dalai Lama through prayers and recitations.
Praying for the long life of the Dalai Lama, the global face of the Tibetan movement in exile, the cabinet said "he is the life and soul of Tibetan people.”
A person's 80th birth anniversary bears special significance and is celebrated as a milestone, according to Tibetan tradition.
Date:
Tuesday, July 7, 2015