Dharamshala: In a heartfelt expression of respect and solidarity with the bereaved family members of the late Kalon Trisur Gyalo Thondup, Tibetans in the diaspora held prayer services at various community centres worldwide. Gyalo Thondup, who passed away on 8 February 2025 at the age of 97 in Kalimpong, was the elder brother of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and has dedicated much of his life to the Tibetan cause and played a key role in the political movements of the exile community.

Following his passing, the news was widely covered by major outlets, including The New York Times and The Washington Post, highlighting his significant contributions to the Tibetan cause.

On 9 February, Tibetan communities in New York & New Jersey, Portland, Vancouver BC, Chicago, Boston, Minnesota, Washington DC, Vermont, Ithaca, North California, Connecticut, Wisconsin, and Gangjong Choden Ling gathered at their respective community centres to hold prayer ceremonies in his honour.

On the western edge of the Himalayan belt, in Ladakh, Tibetan communities from the Sonamling Tibetan settlement, as well as nomadic groups from the Jangthang region, held prayer services at their respective community halls.

Meanwhile, in Bylakuppe, local Tibetan leaders from the Lugsung Samdupling and Dekyi Larso Tibetan settlements, along with staff members from the settlement offices and auditors from the Bylakuppe branch, came together to observe a prayer ceremony. An hour’s ride away from Bylakuppe, residents of the Hunsur Rabgyaling Tibetan Settlement also gathered at their community hall to mourn and pray.

On the northern side of the Indian subcontinent, Tibetans in Dharamshala, Shimla, Kamrao, Kham Kathok (Satuan), and Miao, Tezu, and Tenzingang to the east also held prayer services. The prayer gatherings were attended by CTA officials, representatives of local Tibetan NGOs, and Tibetan settlers, including students, to express their collective grief and honour the contributions of Kalon Trisur Gyalo Thondup.

In Nepal, Representative Tsepri Lopan Tulku Ngawang Chokdup convened Tibetan settlement officers and representatives of local civil societies and institutions at the open ground before the Choejor Tibetan Settlement’s community hall to observe a prayer ceremony for the demise of Kalon Trisur Gyalo Thondup. In total, more than 800 Tibetans, including monks and nuns from every Tibetan Buddhist monastery in the region, participated in the prayer service.

In London, the Tibetan community of Britain (TCB) gathered at Tibet House in the evening of 12 February to offer prayers for Kalon Trisur Gyalo Thondup.

The prayer gathering, organised jointly with the Office of Tibet, at Tibet House began with a speech by Representative Tsering Yangkey, who paid tribute to Trisur Gyalo Thondup’s lifelong service to Tibet. She highlighted his contributions to the Tibetan cause and urged those present to reflect on his enduring legacy. “His dedication to the fatherland was unwavering. Let us sincerely pray for his noble rebirth,” she said.

Tibetan community members filled the conference room, coming straight from work to pay their respects. The prayer session was led by senior community member Kunsang Chodon, and the room reverberated with the sounds of prayer chants, creating an atmosphere of solemn reverence and spiritual unity.

The passing of Trisur Gyalo Thondup marks the end of an era, but his contributions to the Tibetan cause will remain an enduring source of inspiration for generations to come.

In Geneva, the Tibetan Community of Switzerland & Liechtenstein organised a memorial service for former Kasur Gyalo Thondup at Rikon Monastery on 16 February 2025.

The ceremony was attended by the Abbot and monks of Rikon Monastery, former Special Representative of His Holiness Kalsang Gyaltsen, former Tibetan Parliamentarians in the region, representatives of local Cholka Sum (traditional three Tibetan Provinces) groups, Tibetan Community leaders, and the general public. Vice President Ngeden Gyatso presented a brief biography of the late Gyalo Thondup, while the Abbot of Rikon Monastery spoke about his contributions and encouraged prayers.

Nearly 300 Tibetans from the three traditional provinces participated in the service.

In Belgium, prayer service was organised to honour late Kasur Gyalo Thondup’s remarkable contributions to Tibet’s religion, politics, and people following his passing away on 8 February. The service, held on 16 February 2025, at the Nalanda Institute in Brussels, was jointly hosted by multiple Tibetan associations and organisations from the Belgian Tibetan community. It aimed to offer prayers for his swift attainment of higher spiritual realisations and to commemorate his lifelong dedication.

The event, attended by a diverse group of local governmental and non-governmental representatives, as well as over 200 Tibetan community members from six major Belgian cities, included speeches that highlighted the deceased’s biography and achievements. During the service, several families generously sponsored the expenses for the venue, refreshments, and tea.

Similarly, the France Tibetan Association organised a prayer gathering and offering ceremony on 16 February 2025, to honour the memory of the late Gyalo Thondup. Approximately 250 attendees, came together in Paris to express their deep condolences and pay respects.