His Holiness the Dalai Lama Gets Grand Welcome in Dharamsala
Saturday, 27 February 2010, 7:39 p.m.
| His Holiness the Dalai Lama is being greeted by Speaker Penpa Tsering and Kalon Tripa Samdhong Rinpoche at the airport near Dharamsala, on 27 February 2010/Office of His Holiness |
Dharamshala: Hundreds of Tibetans and well-wishers accorded warm welcome to His Holiness the Dalai Lama upon his return to Dharamsala Saturday morning after concluding a ten-day visit to the United States.
His Holiness was received at the Kangra Airport by speaker of the Tibetan Parliament in exile and Kalon Tripa Samdhong Rinpoche, Secretary to His Holiness and the Tibetan Settlement Officer.
The officials of the Central Tibetan Administration and settlement officers, who are in Dharamsala for a general meeting, greeted His Holiness as his motorcade passed through the main town.
Besides CTA officials, hundreds of general public attired in traditional Tibetan dress lined on both sides of road decorated with colourful buntings and gates to welcome His Holiness. The Tibetans were holding in their hands traditional scarves, bouquets and incense sticks.
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Tibetans welcome His Holiness the Dalai Lama as the motorcade passes through Mcleod Ganj
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| The highlight of His Holiness’ US visit was his first meeting with President Barack Obama. The meeting underscored the US government’s strong support for the preservation of Tibet’s unique religious, cultural and linguistic identity and the protection of human rights for Tibetans in the People’s Republic of China. |
President Obama commended His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s “Middle Way” approach, his commitment to nonviolence and his pursuit of dialogue with the Chinese government. The President stressed that he has “consistently encouraged both sides to engage in direct dialogue to resolve differences.
His Holiness was also honoured with the prestigious Democracy Service Award for his commitment to advancing the principles of democracy and human dignity. In his acceptance His Holiness recounted his efforts to herald democratic reforms in Tibet around 1952 and later in the exile community since 1959.
