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His Holiness the Dalai Lama's 75th Birthday Celebration In Russia
[Friday, 9 July 2010, 4:44 p.m.]
Moscow: The 75th birthday of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the spiritual and temporal leader of Tibetan people, was celebrated on 6th July at Dom Kino at House of Cinema in the center of Moscow. The ceremony began with His Holiness' long life prayer, chanted by Ani Choying Dolma, a well-known Tibetan nun singer residing in Nepal, and have especially came to Russia to participate in the 75th birthday celebration of His Holiness and by offering the traditional scarf to the portrait of His Holiness by the Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Russia, Tibetans and others.
Representative Nawang Rabgyal, while welcoming the guests and friends from different aspects of life, spoke on the view and vision of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and His Holiness' three main commitments in life. The Representative Rabgyal said: "For the Tibetan people, His Holiness is not only the spiritual and temporal leader but he is the source of our inner strength and happiness. He is the symbol of our unity, the symbol of our hope and aspiration. The Tibetan people owe him greatly for leading us in this most difficult and critical period in the history of Tibet. Tibet has a recorded history of more than 2000 years and civilization of over 300 years."
Further the representative narrated on the cultural and spiritual contact between the people of Russian Federation and Tibetans established in 17th century, when Buddhism began to spread in the territories of Buryatia, Kalmykia and Tuva in Russian Federation. "Moreover, Russia was the first European country to have diplomatic contact with independent Tibet in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The great 13th Dalai Lama and Tsar Nicholas II had exchanged several letters and gifts. The first Buddhist temple in Europe was built in St. Petersburg, then capital of Russia, in early 20th century with financial contributions from His Holiness the 13th Dalai Lama", said Mr. Nawang Rabgyal.
The second speaker was Rev. Telo Tulku Rinpoche, the head of Kalmyk Temple and President of Buddhist Community of Kalmyk Republic, who spoke on the view and activities of His Holiness, emphasizing on the need to develop human value.
It was followed by the presentation of the Office of the Dalai Lama's website, which is now translated in Russian, by Mrs. Julia Jironkina, the founder and director of Moscow-based Save Tibet Foundation.
This was followed by spiritual songs in praise of the Guru Padma Sambha, Tara, Chenrezig and the Buddhas chanted by Ani Choying Dolma. Chanting spiritual songs were received highly by the audience. Her wonderful song and chanting performances were followed by screening a film "What Remains Behind Us".
The public celebration of His Holiness the Dalai Lama's birthday in Moscow on 6th July was organized jointly by the Tibet Culture and Information Center, the official agency of Central Tibetan Administration, and Save Tibet Foundation. It was attended by the distinguished guests and friends belonging to different aspects of life, such as, parliament members, government officials, academicians, and journalists as well as the followers and admirers of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and friends and supporters of Tibet and Tibetans.
A reception in honour of His Holiness the Dalai Lama's 75th birthday celebration was hosted by Tibet Culture and Information Center and Save Tibet foundation on 8th July at Tibet Himalaya Restaurant.
The Buddhists in three traditional Buddhist Republics in Russia: Buryatia, Kalmykia and Tuva also celebrated His Holiness the Dalai Lama's birthday with great joy and happiness.
--Report filed by Tibet Culture & Information Centre, Moscow.
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