72nd birthday of His Holiness celebrated in Russia

Tuesday, 10 July 2007, 9:49 a.m.

Moscow: The Tibet Culture and Information Centre in collaboration with the Moscow Friends of Tibet Society organized the celebration of 72nd birthday of His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the conference hall of the 69th Pavilion of All Russia Exhibition Complex of Moscow on 6 July. The event was attended by more than four hundred Buddhists, friends and well wishers of His Holiness.

Representatives from the embassies of India and Mongolia and also offices of Buddhist republics in Moscow attended the celebration.

In his welcome address, Mr Tashi, Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama for Russia, briefly introduced the noble activities of His Holiness and said “His Holiness the Dalai Lama is the living Gandhi of our age. Today His Holiness is one of the leading figures fighting for world peace, freedom and social justice through non-violence. Unlike many of the world leaders the uniqueness of His Holiness is that His every activity is based on non-violence. He preaches the message of love, compassion, tolerance, forgiveness and brotherhood. He promotes human value and religious harmony”.

Representative Tashi announced the upcoming long life prayer offering to His Holiness the Dalai Lama by the Buddhists of Russia and Mongolia to be held later this year on 10 November in Dharamsala and implored the guests, Buddhists and the friends to pray for the long life of His Holiness during the Fire-Pig year which is considered an obstacle year for His Holiness.

Mr Eduard Balashov, the Chairman of Moscow Tibet Support Group fully admired His Holiness the Dalai Lama and remembered his meeting with His Holiness when the official delegation of Russian International Association Peace through Culture visited Dharamsala.

The Tibetans offered long life prayers for His Holiness followed by screening of documentary film on awarding the “WHITE LOTUS” to His Holiness by the Republic of Kalmykia on 10 December last year in Dharamshala.

Cultural songs and dances of Buriatya, Kalmykia, Tibetan, Bashkortasan, Russian and Indian classics were performed.

The recently coloured printed booklets of compiled interview of His Holiness by the Russian journalists on Tibet, Russia, Buddhism and global issues were also distributed.

The celebration was concluded with pure vegetarian refreshments of traditional Indian sweets and masala cold tea for all the guests.

On the same day in Kalmykia, the Buddhists prayed for the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The long life prayer for His Holiness was also offered in every Buddhist temple in the republic.

Mr Kirsan Ilumjhinov, the head of the government of Kalmykia conveyed his warm greetings to the people of Kalmykia on the occasion of the birthday of His Holiness at the main Buddhist temple in Elista and reiterated his indefatigable efforts to ask the Russian Federal government to allow him to invite His Holiness to Kalmykia for the revival of Buddhism.

In the evening a gala concert was organized in the central square of Elista for the youth and birthday cake was distributed.

The birthday of His Holiness was also celebrated in Tuva with prayers of long life in the Buddhist temple.

— Report filed by Tibet Culture & Information Centre