Monks hold prayers for His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Tawang visitFriday, 18 September 2009, 11:39 a.m.

Monks in a Tawang monastey Photo/ flickr.com

Dharamshala: Hundreds of Buddhist monks and nuns at the historic Tawang monastery in Arunachal Pradesh began special prayers ahead of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s visit in November, Reuters news agency reported.His Holiness the Dalai Lama is expected to visit Arunachal Pradesh in the second week of November at the invitation from some local Buddhists. “As there is a controversy going on over Dalai Lama’s visit, so we have started special prayers for his hassle-free trip,” Lopon Rinpoche, one of the senior monks supervising the religious leader’s visit, was quoted as saying by Reuters. He said 775 monks and 188 nuns from the state’s monasteries have started special prayers.Nuns have started making brass bowls on which they would inscribe Buddhist scriptures.Lopon Rinpoche said they have planned a special ceremony called Kusungthugten during the His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s visit. Another Buddhist monk and a lawmaker in Arunachal Pradesh, T. G. Rinpoche, said a group of more than 200 monks in a nearby monastery will perform special rituals this week.”More than 250 monks from Bomdila will go to Tawang to participate in his welcome ceremony,” Rinpoche said.His Holiness the Dalai Lama will inaugurate a super-speciality hospital in Tawan. The spiritual leader’s devotees are also collecting funds for his biggest cause. “We have collected money, gold and silver coins to offer to His Holiness to help his cause,” Rinpoche said.Responding to China’s objection to His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s proposed visit,India’s External Affairs Minister S M Krishna said Wednesday that His Holiness the Dalai Lama is free to go anywhere in India. “Arunachal Pradesh is a part of India and Dalai Lama is free to go anywhere in India,” Mr Krishna told a Indian TV channel. “The only question is that he is not expected to comment on political developments.” Krishna said.