His Holiness inaugurates International Buddhist Music and Ritual festival
Monday, 9 October 2006, 11:00 a.m.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama at Buddha Jayanti Park in New Delhi (Photo: Phayul) |
Dharamshala: His Holiness the Dalai Lama yesterday inaugurated a three-day International Festival of Buddhist Music and Ritual at Buddha Jayanti Park in New Delhi.
The festival was held to commemorate 2550th year of Mahaparinirvana of Sakyamuni Buddha. It was organised by the Tibet House, New Delhi, in collaboration with Ministry of Culture, Government of India.
(Photo: Phayul) |
Speaking at a news conference in New Delhi, His Holiness the Dalai Lama reiterated that he is asking for a genuine autonomy for Tibet, which should be governed by the elected representatives of the Tibetan people, in order to preserve its culture, religion and environment.
AP quoted His Holiness the Dalai Lama as saying “An elected government in Tibet would mean two different political systems in one country. In a totalitarian regime (like China), it is not easy, but it is possible.”
According to the AP news report, His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s comments came in response to frequent accusations by Chinese officials that he has a hidden agenda of independence for Tibet.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama speaking at a news conference in New Delhi |
It further quoted His Holiness as saying “Our struggle is not for restoration of the Dalai Lama institution, or any of the old system,” adding that he no longer holds any administrative power, even in the Tibetan Administration in exile.
His Holiness today flew to Prague to attend an international conference orgnised by Forum 2000, a foundation started by Vaclav Havel, the respected former President of the Czech Republic, to encourage dialogue and promote world peace.
The 10th Forum 2000 conference will discuss the global mosaic of heterogeneous cultures, ideologies and religions and will be attended by about 40 renowned world personalities.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama with Mr. Vaclav Havel |
Apart from His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Elie Wiessel, Belarussian opposition leader Alyaksandar Milinkevich, American scholar Samuel Huntington, Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga, Jordanian Prince Hassan bin Al Talal and former Irish President Mary Robinson are also expected.
Apart from his participation in the conference, His Holiness Dalai Lama is expected to give a public lecture at the Prague Sparta basketball stadium on 11 October.
This is His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s sixth visit to Czech Republic after his last visit in 2003.