Brussels: The Belgium Ghoton Organising Committee celebrated His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 91st Birthday and the Closing Ceremony of the Year of Compassion on 5 July 2026 in Antwerp, Belgium.

The President of the Belgium Buddhist Union, Carlo Luyckx, attended the event as the Chief Guest. He was joined by distinguished guests representing the Himalaya Dolma Buddhist Centre, Sera Je Jadrel Buddhist Centre, Schoten Buddhist Institute, and other invited guests.

The programme commenced with the Chief Guest, Carlo Luyckx, President of the Belgium Buddhist Union, together with Thinley Wangdue, Secretary of the Office of Tibet, Brussels, offering prostrations, Mendrel, and ceremonial scarves to the portrait of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. This was followed by the singing of the Tibetan National Anthem and a one-minute silence to pay tribute to those who have sacrificed their lives for the Tibetan cause.

Dhundup Gyalpo, the Tibetan Liaison Officer to Europe, welcomed the guests and thanked them for joining the celebration. He urged Tibetans to remain united and also shared the encouraging news that His Holiness the Dalai Lama is in excellent health and, it is hoped, will continue to live for many more years to serve humanity and the Tibetan people. This was followed by the Chief Guest’s address, in which he congratulated the organisers and highlighted the importance of promoting compassion, peace, and interfaith harmony through the teachings of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Following the Chief Guest’s address, the gathering paid tribute to the late Lobga Rangzen (Lobsang Palden), who self-immolated outside the United Nations Headquarters in New York City on 2 July 2026 as a non-violent protest against the Chinese government’s policies in Tibet, particularly the implementation of the Ethnic Unity and Progress Law on 1 July 2026. In his memory, a one-hour prayer service was led by Venerable Metok Rinpoche and other monks, during which his final message was read aloud by Dhundup Gyalpo. The congregation offered prayers and observed a moment of reflection in honour of his sacrifice and in solidarity with the Tibetan people inside Tibet.

Thinley Wangdue, Secretary of the Office of Tibet, Brussels, delivered a keynote presentation highlighting the series of activities undertaken by the Office of Tibet, Brussels, and the Belgium Ghoton Organising Committee during the Year of Compassion, from 6 July 2025 to 5 July 2026. Throughout the year, two activities were organised every month to commemorate His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 90th Birthday and to promote his timeless message of compassion and peace.

The year-long programme included a wide range of initiatives. These featured debates on His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Four Principal Commitments, exclusive screenings of his latest documentary, Wisdom of Happiness, at the European Parliament and UGC Brussels, the release of commemorative postage stamps in collaboration with bpost in honour of the occasion, and numerous exhibitions on His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s life, legacy, and teachings at Tibetan cultural schools, churches, municipal buildings, and residential care homes throughout Belgium.

The Belgium Ghoton Organising Committee also organised Tibetan teachers’ training programmes, a cycling rally through the streets of Brussels, and participation in the Brussels 20 km race under the banner of the Year of Compassion. As part of its humanitarian outreach, the organisers distributed 90 sleeping bags to homeless people during the harsh winter months and provided free meals to underprivileged individuals, translating His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s message of compassion into meaningful community service.

The campaign also brought His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s timeless messages of compassion, peace, and universal responsibility to the wider public through billboards displayed along major streets in Brussels, at metro stations, and on buses and trams, reaching thousands of commuters and residents.

Following the presentation, colourful cultural performances were presented by members of Domey Province, U-Tsang Province, the Regional Tibetan Women’s Association (RTWA) Belgium, and several individual performers, showcasing Tibet’s rich cultural heritage and adding vibrancy to the celebration.

The programme concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Mr. Tenzin Phuntsok, EU Advocacy Officer for Tibet, who expressed his sincere gratitude to the Chief Guest, distinguished guests, members of the Belgium Ghoton Organising Committee for their dedicated service throughout the year, the performers, volunteers, and members of the Tibetan community for their wholehearted support in making the year-long celebration a grand success.

Marking the successful conclusion of the Year of Compassion and the celebration of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 91st Birthday, the organisers hosted a vegetarian community dinner, bringing together guests, performers, volunteers, and community members in a spirit of gratitude, unity, and fellowship. The gathering provided a fitting conclusion to a year dedicated to promoting His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s enduring message of compassion, peace, and universal responsibility.

–Report filed by Office of Tibet, Brussels