Dharamshala: On the auspicious occasion of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 88th Birth Anniversary, Tibetans all over the world cheerfully celebrated the day with delight and optimism along with the Tibetan Support Groups and local peoples.
Likewise, In India, where the largest exiled Tibetan community reside across various settlements, the Tibetan Settlements Offices, in collaboration with multiple NGOs, organised the birthday celebration by inviting dignitaries, officials and prominent personalities as guests. The celebration also includes prayers, entertainment, sports and so on as a way for the Tibetan people to express their gratitude and everlasting faith in His Holiness the Dalai Lama and his leadership.
In Samyeling Tibetan Settlement, Delhi, the celebration was organised at the Tibetan Children’s Village Day School with the gracious presence of Shri Sujeet Kumar, All Part Indian Parliamentary Forum on Tibet’s Convenor and Rajya Sabha MP from Odisha, as the event’s chief guest. It was also attended by Shri Prahlad Singh Sawhney, MLA, Chandini Chowk; Smt Rinchen Lhamo, Member of National Commission for Minorities; Shri Jambey Wangdi, the Chairman of the Department of Karmik and Adhyatmik (Government of Arunachal Pradesh); and Representative Lobsang Shatri, Bureau of His Holiness the Dalai Lama (New Delhi) as special guests, along with other dignitaries and officials.
In their addresses, the chief and special guests unanimously assured their unequivocal support towards the Tibetan freedom struggle while expressing their sincere admiration for His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Furthermore, Shri Prahlad Singh Sawhney, Smt Rinchen Lhamo and Representative Lobsang Shatri jointly inaugurated the new entrance gate before the celebration.
The director and college students from Tibetan Youth Hostel in Delhi distributed food as alms to the indigent in the region as part of His Holiness’ birthday celebration.
Office of Chief Representative, South Zone, Bengaluru and Dalai Lama Institution of Higher Education marked the 88th birthday celebrations of His Holiness the Dalai Lama with pomp and gaiety in Bidadi, Ramanagar district of Karnataka, joined by the Tibetan community in and around Bengaluru.
The official programme was presided by Hon’ble Member of Tibetan Parliament in Exile Dr. Rinzin Lhundup, Chief Representative Officer Jigmey Tsultrim, Geshe Lobsang Gyalten, Registrar of DLIHE, and Office Secretary Tenzin Tsepel, CRO.
The students of Dalai Lama Institute of Higher Education, Tibetan Mentseekhang Sowa Rigpa Medical College, Tibetan Youth Hostel, St. Johns Nursing College, other institutions including Sera Jey Buddha Vihara as well as Tibetans in various professions from Shivaji Nagar to Dubai Plaza, HSR Layout to Ejipura, Yelanhanka to Electronic City, residing at Bengaluru gathered at Chenrezig Auditorium to pray for the well-being of entire sentient being and especially for the longevity of His Holiness 14th Dalai Lama.
An exhibition was held by the Inter Department of DLIHE upon the Four Noble Commitments of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama.
The day of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 88th Birth Anniversary saw another programme jointly organised by Shri. Nijalingappa National Memorial Trust, Bengaluru and Office of CRO at the auditorium of Gandhi Bhavan, Kumara Park East, Sheshadripuram.
The event was presided by Chief Guest, Hon’ble Dr. Justice Shivaraj V Patil, Former Judge of Supreme Court of India, Special Guest, Shri. B.L Shankar, Former Chairman, Karnataka Legislative Council (Upper House), Sh. Asagudu Jayasimha, President of Sh.NNMT, Bengaluru, and Dr. Asha, Lecturer, Sheshadripuram College.
Distinguished scholars, artist and administrators including Shmt. Leeladevi R. Prasad, Former Minister of Karnataka Government and Trustee of Sh.NNMT; Dr. Madan Gopal Krishna, Former ACS, Forest, Ecology and Environment, GoK; Sh.Kishan Singh Sugara, Former IFS, GoK; Sh. H Shivalingaiah, Trustee, Sh.NNMT; C.Manjula, Asst.Secretary, Sh.NNMT; Sh.Niranjan Urs. Secretary ITFS Bengaluru; Sh.Shivanand Joint Secretary, ITFS; Sh.Gopi, ITFS Member; and many others. Whereas, Hon’ble Member of Tibetan Parliament in Exile, Dr.Rinzin Lhundup; Geshe Lobsang Gyaltsen, Acting Principal and Director of DLIHE; Dr.Dorjee Rabten, Principal, TMSMC; Dr.Jampa Yonten; Dr.Choedup, TMAI; Tenzin Sonam, Accountant, CRO; students from St.John’s Nursing College; representatives of Shivaji Nagar Sweater Selling Association; Members of Dubai Plaza Tibetan Shopkeepers Association and many others joined the event.
In Sikkim, Hon’ble Chief Minister of the state, Shri Prem Singh Tamang, and his wife Krishna Rai, Hon’ble Speaker Shri Arun Upreti, Sikkim Legislative Assembly Shri Kunga Nima Lepcha, Education Minister, Shri Samdup Lepcha, Art and Culture and Road Minister, Lok Sabha M.P Shri Indira Hang Subbha, Mayor and Deputy Mayor, Directors, Secretaries and former Secretaries attended the celebration of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 88th Birthday at Gangtok Sera Monastery on 6 July 2023.
The Hon’ble Chief Minister laid the foundation stone of the Multi-purpose community hall and said “Within one year, we will complete the construction and inaugurate the multipurpose hall on the upcoming birthday of His Holiness on 6 July 2024 in his address. Tibetan Settlement Officer Lhakpa Tsering expressed his gratitude to the Hon’ble Chief Minister on behalf of the CTA, Settlement Office and Tibetan community of Gangtok during the celebration.
In Arunachal’s census town Tezu, Deputy Chief Minister Shri Chowna Mein attended His Holiness’ birthday celebration as chief guest with Dzogchen Ganor Rinpoche, two Members of the Legislative Assembly, and Deputy Commissioners.
Settlement Officer Kunga Jigme submitted a memorandum to the prominent guests at the celebration hosted by Tezu Tibetan Settlement Office and received their assurances of support. The memorandum described the challenges encountered by the settlement.
In Shimla, Tibetans celebrated the 88th Birthday of His Holiness Great 14th the Dalai Lama gracefully at Sambhota Tibetan School with chief guest Honourable Revenue Minister of the State Government, Jagat Singh Negi. It was also attended by Mayor Surender Chauhan and Deputy Mayor Uma Kaushal as Guests of Honour, along with the councillors of the different wards, the President of the Indo-Tibetan Friendship Society, Kinnaur Lahaul Spiti Bauddh Seva Sangh and several local news reporters.
Abbot Kunga Choephel and Sonam Tashi of Jonang Takten Phuntsok Choeling and Dorje Drak monasteries were also present among the local Tibetan dignitaries.
Tibetans in Mundgod, celebrated the 88th birthday of His Holiness the Dalai Lama with pomp and grandeur on 6 July 2023.
The ceremony was presided by Tehsildar Shri Shankar Goudi, Tibetan Parliamentarian Geshe Lharampa Atuk Tseten, Abbots of monasteries, Settlement Officer Lhakpa Dolma, President Geshe Lharampa Lobsang Nyendak of Local Tibetan Assembly, Acting President of Tibetan Freedom Movement, President and Secretary of the Tibetan Cooperative Society, Principal and Teachers of residential school, Governing Council and Treasurers of the monasteries, Executive Secretaries and Physicians of the Allopathic and Homeopathic centres, Presidents of the RTWA and RTYC, heads of villages, members of the local Tibetan opera association, students and the general public.
The recipient of the excellence scholarship, Tenzin Urgyen from class 12 batch of 2023 was presented with a gift and 5 recipients of excellence scholarship from Drepung Loseling monastery were awarded INR 15,000 cash prize. Similarly, students from each class excelling in Tibetan handwriting won prizes. Ratoe monastery gifted 10 desktops to elected group leaders.
In Odisha settlement, the settlement office in collaboration with the Trungkar organising committee organised a three-day grand celebration of H.H. The Dalai lama’s 88th birthday.
The official function on the first day was attended by Jigme Rinpoche and the MLA Shri. Dasarathi Gomanga. The President of regional RSS, Sarpanch, and Block Development Officer of Mohana, Addl. Tehsildar of Udaygiri also attended the function.
Jigme Rinpoche was presented with an award by the MLA on behalf of the settlement office, MTCS, and all the settlement people as an appreciation for his long public service to the people of the Tibetan settlement in Odisha. The celebration continued with numerous cultural performances from the Sambhota Tibetan school and people of the five camps which included solo songs, group dances, Tibetan opera, Serkem sha nag cham, Lingdro etc
More cultural performances including games were organised on the second day by the sports committee.
On the third day, in addition to cultural performances, prizes were distributed to the top students. The Regional and Central Tibetan Women’s Association awarded families with three or more children. The Ngari Korsum organisation awarded hostel students who scored more than 85% in their exams. The top three students of class 10 were given special awards by the former resident of this settlement Tenzin Thinley.
The grand three-day celebration of H.H. The Dalai lama’s 88th birthday concluded with a lively concert on the evening of the third day.
The Tibetan Settlement Herbertpur held a six-day Trungkar Basketball tournament from 1- 6 July 2023 during the occasion of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 88th birthday.
Various youth groups participated in it. The basketball matches were played amongst six teams, with two Teams from Sambota Tibetan School, One from Lakhanwala, Baluwala and two from ITI Selakui, respectively. There were 38 participants in total.
The tournament was funded by USAID.
At Ngoenga School in Dehradun, the children and parents with the school teachers celebrated the day with cultural performances from the students and vegetarian lunch.
