Darjeeling Tibetans Celebrate ‘Thank You USA’ with Lhakar: A Day of Unity and Tribute

The event began with an introductory speech in Tibetan and Nepali on the Resolve Tibet Act, followed by the Tibetan and Indian National Anthems. A minute of silence was also observed for the fallen martyrs who had sacrificed their precious lives for the cause of Tibet.

All the attendees and some friends from the Buddhist fraternity paid homage to His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama by singing four lined long-life prayers with tossing of (Tsampa) barley flour in the sky calling for further protection from the oath bounded dharma protectors at the main square of Chowrasta.  More than 1500 sweets and water were served to share the joyous event with the local brothers and sisters and tourists frequenting Chowrasta some of whom also joined the famous Darjeeling Gorshay organised by the regional Tibetan Women’s Association.

The organising committee also distributed around 300 unostentatious copies of brochures about the events to locals and tourists, along with sweets and water.

The event was attended by Tenzin Rangdol, the acting Tibetan Settlement Officer, Tenzin Jamyang, the President of the Regional Freedom Movement, Kelsang Chodon, Principal of STS Darjeeling, Thinley Palsang Trogawa, the Chief Medical Doctor and its staff of Chagpori Tibetan Medical Institute and Representatives Tibetan refugee Self Help Centre, RTWA, Presidents and executive members of the Cholka Sum representing three traditional provinces of Tibet. Over 194 students and 33 staff from Sambhota Tibetan School, Darjeeling, also joined the event, which lasted three and a half hours.

-Report filed by TSO, Darjeeling