Respected guests arriving at the venue to take part in the 11th Panchen Rinpoche’s birthday celebration. Photo / Tenzin Jigme Taydeh / CTA

Dharamshala: The Central Tibetan Administration, in collaboration with the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery in exile, today held a celebration at Tsuglagkhang to commemorate the 35th birthday of His Serenity the 11th Kunzig Panchen Rinpoche Jetsun Tenzin Gedhun Yeshi Trinley Phuntsok Pal Sangpo in the presence of delegations from Estonian parliament, Buddhist leaders from Himalayan region, and Abbot of the Tashi Lhunpo monastery, Ven Zeekgyab Rinpoche.

Honourable Juku-Kalle Raid, the Member of Estonian Parliament and the Chair of Estonian Parliamentary Support Group for Tibet, attended the event marking the 35th birthday of His Serenity 11th Panchen Rinpoche, whose whereabouts is still unknown for almost a month short of 29 years since the Chinese government’s abduction. It was also attended by special guests Tsechokling Rinpoche, the former secretary of the Ecclesiastical Affairs Department, Govt of Sikkim; Regzin Dorjay, Acting President of the Ladakh Buddhist Association; Henn Põlluaas, Member of Estonian Parliament and Former Speaker; Tarmo Tamm, Member of the Estonian Parliament; Roy Strider, Estonian Tibet Support Coordinator; leadership of the Central Tibetan Administration; and other members of the delegations visiting Dharamshala for today’s occasion, including prominent journalists from esteemed media houses.

Beginning with the reading of Kashag (Cabinet) and Tibetan Parliament in Exile’s statement for the occasion by Sikyong Penpa Tsering and Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel, the guests of the event jointly inaugurated a jigsaw puzzle inscribed with 11th Panchen Rinpoche’s portrait followed by a ceremonial cake cutting during the celebration. 

In his keynote speech, the chief guest Juku-Kalle Raid, who is also a member of the Estonian government’s Foreign Affairs Commission, said to the gathering mainly consisted of Tibetans, “We have had a similar past, and the past was similarly terrible, but we hope we will have a similar future that is not terrible.” While disclosing the convo he had with His Holiness the Dalai Lama earlier this morning during a special audience, the Chair of the Estonian Parliamentary Support Group for Tibet wished Tibetans a free future before concluding his talk. 

Likewise, the abbot of Tashi Lhunpo monastery, the traditional monastic home of the Panchen Lamas, implored all Tibetans to pool their efforts in advocating for the 11th Panchen Lama’s – recognised by His Holiness the Dalai Lama – freedom. Rinpoche further gave the assembly an update on the advocacy campaign undertaken by the Tashi Lhunpo monastery in exile to obtain freedom and justice for the long-missing Panchen Rinpoche and Chadrel Rinpoche.

The other guests also spoke during the ceremony as well, and the event witnessed the singing of freshly produced songs honouring Panchen Rinpoche from Tibetan singer Tsering Gyurmey and TIPA artists, along with the release of a new book by Tibetan scholar Thinley Wangchuk and five publications of Tashi Lhunpo monastery in exile. 

(R-L) Sikyong Penpa Tsering, Honourable Juku-Kalle Raid, Zeekgyab Rinpoche, and Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel cutting a ceremonial cake. Photo / Tenzin Jigme Taydeh / CTA

Zeekgyab Rinpoche addressing the gathering. Photo / Tenzin Jigme Taydeh / CTA

Tibetan singer Tsering Gyurmey presenting his newly composed song on His Serenity the 11th Panchen Rinpoche. Photo / Tenzin Jigme Taydeh / CTA

Regzin Dorjay from the Ladakh Buddhist Association speaking during the birthday celebration of His Serenity the 11th Panchen Rinpoche. Photo / Tenzin Jigme Taydeh / CTA

Chief guest and the special guests of the event. Photo / Tenzin Jigme Taydeh / CTA

(L-R) Sikyong Penpa Tsering, Honourable Juku-Kalle Raid, Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel, and Zeekgyab Rinpoche inaugurating the jigsaw puzzle. Photo / Tenzin Jigme Taydeh / CTA

Member of the Estonian Parliament and its Former Speaker Henn Põlluaas. Photo / Tenzin Jigme Taydeh / CTA

Chief guest Juku-Kalle Raid, the Member of Estonian Parliament and the Chair of Estonian Parliamentary Support Group for Tibet. Photo / Tenzin Jigme Taydeh / CTA

Secretary Karma Choeying, Department of Information and International Relations, delivering a vote of thanks. Photo / Tenzin Jigme Taydeh / CTA

Artists from Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts during the event sing a song. Photo / Tenzin Jigme Taydeh / CTA