Tibetan Community in Belgium Holds a Prayer Service Marking the 49th Day of Kalon Trisur Gyalo Thondup’s Demise

Brussels: More than two hundred Tibetans from six major cities in Belgium gathered at Schoten Monastery in Antwerp on 30 March 2025 to participate in a prayer service marking the 49th day of Kalon Trisur Gyalo Thondup’s passing.

The prayer service was organised by the Belgium-based U-Tsang Association, Amdo Association, and the Tibetan Women’s Association.

EU Advocacy Officer Tenzin Phuntsok from the Bureau du Tibet, along with Geshe Tsetan Phuntsok from Shedrup Tengye Ling, Geshe Jigme, the President, and the executive members of the aforementioned organisations, took part in the service.

During the intermission of the prayer service, Tamding Tsetan, Vice Chairman of the Amdo Association, gave a brief introduction, followed by the EU Advocacy Officer’s address. The address included a concise biography of the late Gyalo Thondup and a call for participants to pray for his rebirth in Tibet, where he may continue to serve the Tibetan people.

He also introduced His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama’s recently launched book Voice for the Voiceless, which is now available for purchase by the international community. He urged every Tibetan in the diaspora to obtain a copy of the book and study its contents.

Furthermore, he emphasised the importance of public participation in the celebration of His Holiness’s 90th birthday, which has been designated as the “Year of Compassion” by the Central Tibetan Administration.

Additionally, the EU Advocacy Officer implored the gathering to extend their prayers for those affected by the 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar and Thailand on 28 March, causing severe damage to lives and property, particularly to those who lost their lives in the disaster.

-Report filed by OoT, Brussels