His Holiness the Dalai Lama arrives to a rousing welcome in Mundgod

Staff Reporter

December 12, 2019

His Holiness the Dalai Lama arrives at a rousing welcome at Drepung Lachi Monastery, Mundgod Tibetan settlement, Hubli, 12 December 2019. Photo/Tenzin Jigme/CTA

Mundgod: Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama arrived at Mundgod Tibetan settlement in Hubli this afternoon after concluding his Goa visit. His Holiness is visiting the Tibetan settlement after exactly two years since His last visit in December 2017.

Droves of devotees and followers lined up the streets leading to the Drepung Lache Monastery where His Holiness would be hosted temporarily. Holding traditional Tibetan scarves and burning incenses, hundreds of Tibetans, decked up in traditional ornate attires, greeted the Tibetan spiritual leader.

Upon arrival at Drepung Lachi, His Holiness was received by Kalon Trisur Professor Samdhong Rinpoche, Gaden Tripa, Gaden Trisur, Kyabje Ling Rinpoche, Kunteling Rinpoche, Khenpo of Drepung Lache and abbots of Tibetan monasteries, KhenRinpoche of Namgyal Monastery, Members of Tibetan Parliament, Chief Representative of CTA, South Zone, Settlement Officers of the five major Tibetan settlements in South India among others.

His Holiness addressed the abbots, geshes and monks at the reception for over half-hour before departing for Drepung Loseling.

From Saturday, His Holiness will begin a series of Buddhist teachings, long-life empowerments and launch multiple events at two great seats of Gelug tradition: Gaden and Drepung.

On 14 December, His Holiness will inaugurate the new courtyard of Drepung Gomang Monastery and attend a ceremony celebrating the marking of the 6-year implementation phase of the Emory Tibetan Science Initiative in the morning.

On 16 and 17 December, His Holiness will give teachings and confer long life empowerment (tsewang) and attend a symposium on Aryadeva’s 400 Stanzas on the Middle Way (uma shigyapa) at Drepung Loseling.

On 20 December, His Holiness will inaugurate an international conference on Je Tsongkhapa: Life, Thought and Legacy in the morning at Gaden Lachi Monastery. On 21, His Holiness will participate in the 600th anniversary of Je Tsongkhapa’s Parinirvana at Gaden Lachi.

Finally, on 22 December, His Holiness will attend a long-life prayer offering organised by several monasteries at Gaden Jangtse Monastery.

Ling Rinpoche, Kunteling Rinpoche and Buddhist masters during the welcome reception for His Holiness the Dalai Lama, 12 December 2019. Photo/Tenzin Jigme/CTA

Members of Tibetan Parliament and Settlement Officers greet His Holiness the Dalai Lama on his arrival. Photo/Tenzin Jigme/CTA

Tibetans decked in traditional attires to celebrate the arrival of their beloved leader. Photo/Tenzin Jigme/CTA

Tibetans perform traditional Ngonpa dance, purifying ritual, symbolising auspiciousness of the occasion. Photo/Tenzin Jigme/CTA

Drepung Lache decked up with prayer flags and scores of Buddhist monks await for a glimpse of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Photo/Tenzin Jigme/CTA

Kalon Trisur Prof Samdhong Rinpoche, Khen Rinpoche of Namgyal Monastery and eminent Buddhist masters at the reception at Drepung Lache. Photo/Tenzin Jigme/CTA