Taipei, TAIWAN: Nearly a 100 Tibetans as well as Taiwanese Buddhists congregated today evening in the prayer hall of the Taiwan Office of Tibet to pray for the victims of the devastating earthquake in Nepal, which also shook Tibet and northern parts of India.

The two-hour long prayer service was organized by the Office of Tibet and Taiwan Tibetan Welfare Association. Donations are also being collected for relief efforts in Nepal.

Speaking at the prayer service, Representative Dawa Tsering said that Tibet shares a very close historical, cultural and religious bond with Nepal, adding that a significant portion of Nepalese population not only follow Buddhism but also share the same Tibetan culture.

He further added that just as Tibetans across India as well as in the rest of the world are organizing prayer services and raising funds for the quake victims, the Tibetans in Taiwan must also donate to the best their ability towards relief works in Nepal.

Delivering vote of thanks to all those who participated in today’s prayer service, including a group of Nepalese people residing in Taiwan, Tenzin Namdak, vice-president of Taiwan Tibetan Welfare Association, said that the Tibetan people are deeply shaken by the events in Nepal and that “we stand behind them in prayer and in deed.”

– filed by OOT, Taiwan –