Chief guests for the official ceremony cutting birthday cake
Photo: tibet.net
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, the most revered Buddhist leader and Nobel Peace laureate, turned 87 on July 6. Tibetans across the world celebrated the day with events and festivities, and friends and supporters of the Tibetan exiled leader sent their birthday greetings.
In Dharamshala, the home of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and seat of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) also known as the Tibetan Government-in-exile, Tibetans and people from various part of the world gathered in the courtyard of Tsuglakhang temple to celebrate the special day at an official event organised by the CTA. Richard Gere was a special guest at the event, saying in his speech, “His Holiness is not going to be here forever, he is going to leave this body at some point. We can’t rely on the Dalai Lama to carry all of us. We have to carry each other, and it’s going to happen soon enough that that reality hits us. It’s up to the Tibetan people to carry the weight of your freedom, the weight of your truth, the weight of your possibilities, and the weight of your vision.”
Following the official ceremony, the Dharamshala Tibetan community continued the day’s celebrations with a series of dances performed by different groups representing different regions in Tibet, and dedicated to His Holiness on his birthday.
Photo: Free Tibet
In Tibet, the Chinese authorities had heightened security and online surveillance prior to, and during, the month of His Holiness’s birthday. Every year at this time, there are reports of arrests and detentions in Tibet. Radio Free Asia reports that Tibetans have found ways to mark His Holiness’s birthday through picnics or by offering incense. “There are Tibetans inside Tibet who write essays and articles in praise of His Holiness the Dalai Lama on this occasion”, reported RFA, who’s local source, speaking anonymously for their own security, said that these articles “are widely read and shared on social media”.
RFA‘s source continued, “This year around in recent days, the visitors and pilgrimage to Potala Palace and Tsulangkhang Temple in Lhasa are heavily restricted and limited. Only a certain number of visitors are allowed each day to avoid large public gatherings”.
In Nepal, unlike in previous years, Tibetans were granted permission for a two-hour celebration of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 87th birthday; large numbers of Tibetans showed up for the gathering which was presided over by many dignitaries from western embassies who are currently in Nepal.
Tibetan children performing traditional dance in Tsuglakhang courtyard
Photo: Screengrab
Tibetans in the diaspora celebrated His Holiness’ birthday in their respective communities. World leaders, supporters and friends of Tibet and His Holiness also sent their greetings.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also extended his greetings to His Holiness. “Conveyed 87th birthday greetings to His Holiness the @DalaiLama over phone earlier today. We pray for his long life and good health,” he shared on Twitter.
In Geneva, representatives of various Tibet support groups and Tibetans came together to mark the day by hosting the Tibetan national flag and Buddhist flag for the first time at Parc du Tibet, Geneva and the local Tibetan community members and supporters of Tibet prayed for the good and long life of His Holiness.
Special messages and greetings were also extended from the Swiss Parliamentary group for Tibet, German Parliamentary Group for Tibet, Tibet Interest Group in the European Parliament and Belgian Buddhist Union and in London a new photographic exhibition was launched at a special event held by the London Office of Tibet, attended, among others, by Tim Loughton, Conservative Member of Parliament and Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Tibet.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken
The United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken wrote, “I extend best wishes to His Holiness the Dalai Lama on the occasion of his 87th birthday today. His Holiness brings light to his fellow Tibetans and so many around the world by promoting peace [and] encouraging inter-faith harmony […] The United States will continue to support His Holiness’s and the Tibetan community’s efforts to preserve Tibet’s distinct linguistic, religious, and cultural traditions, including the ability to freely choose their religious leaders.”
“On @DalaiLama’s birthday, I honour his lifetime of compassionate advocacy and look forward to continuing to work with His Holiness,” tweeted the US Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues Uzra Zeya.
“It is with great admiration that I join millions in sending warm birthday wishes to His Holiness the @DalaiLama – a beacon of hope for the Tibetan people and a force for compassion in the face of oppression,” tweeted the US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian has reacted to Indian Prime Minister Modi and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s birthday greetings to His Holiness. The Hindu reports him as saying “the Indian side should fully recognise the anti-China separatist nature of the 14th Dalai Lama. India should abide by its commitment to China, speak and act prudently and stop using Tibet related issues to interfere in China’s internal affairs.
“Tibet affairs are China’s internal affairs, which brooks no foreign interference. China is firmly against any engagement by any country with the 14th Dalai Lama. We urge the US side to have full understanding of the important and sensitive nature of the Tibet related issues, respect China’s core interests, have a clear understanding of the anti-China separatist nature of the Dalai group and abide by its commitment on Tibet related issues, stop engaging with Dalai Lama in any form and stop sending any wrong signal to the outside world,”
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