Brussels: On 1 March 2025, the second day of the Tibetan New Year 2152, the Wood-Snake Year, from 3:00 p.m., to 5:00 p.m., five major Tibetan organisations in Belgium jointly held a prayer service at Nalanda Institute in Brussels. The participating organisations were the regional U-tsang Cholka, Amdo Cholka, and Chushi Gangdruk, as well as the regional Tibetan Youth Congress and regional Tibetan Women’s Association.

The festivities for Losar were postponed to express solidarity with those who lost their lives in the recent earthquake in the Dingri region and in light of the passing of His Holiness’ elder brother, former cabinet minister Gyalo Thondup.

The Secretary of the Bureau du Tibet Brussels, Trinley Wangdue, and the EU Advocacy Officer, Tenzin Phuntsok, attended the prayer service. Other attendees included Venerable Metok Rinpoche, Geshe Tseten Phuntsok, Geshe Chonga Tsering, and Geshe Damchoe Woser, along with chairpersons and executive members of the five organising groups. Around one hundred Tibetans from six Belgian cities also took part in the prayer service.

At the beginning of the ceremony, Tseten, Vice President of the Belgian Amdo Cholka Association, explained the importance of organising the prayer ceremony. Secretary Trinley Wangdue of the Brussels Office of Tibet then extended New Year greetings to Tibetans inside and outside Tibet. He encouraged the Belgian public to participate in large numbers in the upcoming 10 March Uprising Day activities and provided updates on the celebration of His Holiness’ birthday and the fundraising initiatives.

-Report filed by Office of Tibet, Brussels