Dharamshala: On 5 July 2025 coinciding with the fifth day of the fifth month in the Tibetan calendar—an auspicious day marking His Holiness’s birth in Tibet—Tibetans, Tibet supporters, admirers, and followers around the world came together to celebrate His Holiness the Great XIV Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday, a milestone of profound significance.

After weeks of dry, hot weather, London turned cool, breezy, and overcast on Saturday, 5 July, providing a gentle, much-needed atmosphere for these grand celebrations.

Under the organisation of the Tibetan Community in Britain, Tibetans from across the UK gathered at Samten Khyil, the historic Tibetan Peace Garden opened by His Holiness in May 1999. Around its permanent mandala structure, Tibetans offered LhaSol to begin the Ghoton on an auspicious note, invoking blessings from the gods of all realms.

Led by Geshe Kachen Stanba of Chode Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, prayers were chanted for the Long Life of His Holiness the Great XIV Dalai Lama and for world peace.

The Tibetan Peace Garden and the adjacent Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park, the venue for the day-long celebrations, were decked with vibrant Tibetan prayer flags fluttering in the morning breeze. His Holiness’s throne with his portrait held pride of place on stage, set against the backdrop of the majestic Imperial War Museum, beneath a banner launching the Year of Compassion and side banners urging: “Be Compassionate.”

Ugyen Choephel, a Tibetan resident of Bristol, recreated a Tibetan nomadic tent with household items, bringing the feel of Tibet to London. A cardboard cut-out of a dri (a hybrid cross between a yak and domestic cattle) outside the tent invited curious visitors to try their hand at milking a dri.

Other tents, each with distinct Tibetan characteristics, dotted the park, transforming it into a Tibetan village scene. At the reception tent, a traditional Tibetan Bo offered visitors a warm Tibetan welcome.

Tibetans in their best traditional attire added colour and mystique to the grounds. The open, free, and inclusive event drew visitors from near and far, many mesmerised by the energy and uniqueness of the celebration.

Formal proceedings began promptly, with invited guests taking their seats while others gathered near the stage.

In her address, Chief Guest Councillor Linda Bird, Mayor of the Royal Borough of Greenwich, wished His Holiness a happy 90th birthday and proudly noted that Greenwich is home to the largest number of Tibetan residents in England, around 200, with the borough’s Town Hall hoisting the Tibetan national flag since 2015.

Special Guest Sir Iain Duncan Smith, MP and Co-Chair of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), extended greetings from his parliamentary colleagues, wishing His Holiness a happy birthday and a long life. Following the event, he posted on X on 6 July (the Western calendar date of His Holiness’s birthday):

“I attended the celebrations of the Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday who has been in exile since the Chinese took over Tibet. 250,000 Tibetan men are in forced, slave labour. China is a brutal occupier of Tibet, and Tibetans fear China will eventually name a rival successor to the Dalai Lama, bolstering Beijing’s control over Tibet.”

His presence and words represented a powerful statement of solidarity with Tibetans in the UK Parliament.

Councillor Sunny Lambe, Mayor of Southwark (under whose jurisdiction the Tibetan Peace Garden falls), graced the event, expressing his joy at seeing the smiling faces gathered in celebration.

“Today, as we celebrate, let us express our deepest gratitude to His Holiness the Dalai Lama for his timeless message of peace, compassion, and universal brotherhood. To truly honour the Year of Compassion, let us each commit personally to living with compassion in our daily lives.” Representative Tsering Yangkey remarked in her address on the occasion.

Dedication prayers for His Holiness were offered on stage by Deesha Chadha (Hindu Forum for Britain), Rajnish Kashyap (Vishwa Hindu Kendra Mandir), Talat (North London Council of Mosques), and Geshe Kachen Stanba (Tashi Lhunpo Monastery), reflecting interfaith harmony, the second of His Holiness’s Four Principal Commitments. Inside a dedicated tent, the Office of Tibet, London, displayed an exhibition on these Four Principal Commitments, drawing visitors who spent time taking notes and reflecting on them.

Tibetan cultural performances from across the UK—including London, Bristol, and Bournemouth—brought the celebration alive, featuring performers from all age groups, including students of the London School of Tibetan Language and Culture, administered by Tibet House Trust.

Artists and musicians from other communities joined the celebration, adding further depth. Mongolian deep-throat singing enchanted the audience, while Uyghur activist Rahima Mahmut moved hearts with her recitation of an English poem she had penned. Hong Kong activist-musician Catherine Li performed three Cantonese songs of freedom, peace, and resistance, reflecting the spirit of cross-movement unity.

Tibetan delicacies, including dresil (sweetened rice) and momos (steamed dumplings), were available from food stalls, adding a taste of Tibet to the celebration.

The UK Ghoton Subcommittee and the Tibetan Community in Britain, supported by the Office of Tibet, helped bring the Ghoton celebrations to fruition. The festivities continued into the evening, culminating in one of the largest Tibetan circle dances ever formed in the UK. Tibetans and friends of Tibet left with hearts full, having celebrated His Holiness the Great XIV Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday in the spirit of joy, unity, and resilience—and with many resolving to carry the celebration’s core message into their daily lives: to practice kindness and compassion.

-Report filed by Office of Tibet, London