Guwahati, 19 November: Kalon Karma Yeshi, Department of Finance, Central Tibetan Administration attended Tawang Tirth Yatra 2018 flag off ceremony here in Guwahati today. The flag off ceremony was graced by His Excellency Shri Jagdish Mukhi, Governor of Assam along with Shri Indresh Kumar, Patron of Bharat Tibbat Sahyog Manch and other dignitaries.
Prior to the flag off ceremony on the evening of 18 November, Kalon attended a welcome dinner reception hosted by His Excellency Shri Jagdish Mukhi, Governor of Assam for all the dignitaries and Tirth Yatra participants. H.E. Governor of Assam, Shri Indresh Kumar and Swami Yatindranand Giri also addressed the gathering.
Kalon Karma Yeshi in his address said: “The relationship between India and Tibet goes back to centuries old. Tibetan culture and religion which is based on Buddhism came from India. It was India who welcomed His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet and thousands of Tibetans to India after the Chinese occupation of Tibet in 1959. For these all, we Tibetans are always grateful to India.” He also thanked Shri Indresh Kumar for leading the Tawang Tirth Yatra and raising Tibetan cause through this yatra.
The welcome dinner reception was also attended by Bhaichung Bhutia, former India football captain and longtime friend of Tibet. Among the dignitaries, Shri R K Khrimey, National Convener of Core Group for Tibetan Cause, Shri Pankaj Goyal and Shri Harijit Singh Grewal were also present.
A Tibetan delegation from Shillong comprising of various Tibetan organizations led by Tibetan Settlement Officer Pema Dhundup also attended Tawang Tirth Yatra 2018 flag off ceremony.
Tawang Tirth Yatra is organized by Bharat Tibbat Sahyog Manch (BTSM) a Tibet Support Group under the leadership of Shri Indresh Kumar. The yatra was started in 2012 and this is the seventh Tawang Tirth Yatra. There are around 400 participants from over 20 States.
Kalon Karma Yeshi is accompanied by Choney Tsering from India Tibet Coordination Office, New Delhi.
-Filed by ITCO