BYLAKUPPE, Karnataka: Shri Siddaramaiah, chief minister of Karnataka state, Shri Nabam Tuki, chief minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay and religious leaders of various faiths greeted His Holiness the Dalai Lama on his 78th birthday celebration at Sera Jey monastery. 

Over 10,000 people including local Tibetans, monks, nuns, students and well-wishers from the local Indian community attended the 78th birthday celebration of His Holiness. Other guests at the celebration include V. Srinivasa Prasad, state minister for revenue, H. Vishwanath, member of parliament, H.S Mahadeva Prasad, state minister for co-operation and Shri K. Venkatesh and H.P Manjunath, members of legislative assembly of Karnataka.

Addressing the ceremony, His Holiness thanked all the dignitaries for coming to the celebration. His Holiness said, the most important thing in life is to generate a good heart and be a good person, and if you can practice genuine love and compassion towards every living being, that would be the biggest gift for me on this birthday.

His Holiness also thanked the government and people of Karnataka on the occasion for the hospitality bestowed to over 40,000 Tibetans settled in the state. His Holiness said, since 1959, the assistance provided by Karnataka, then known as Mysore state, had been the most generous.

His Holiness also thanked the various religious leaders of different faiths who had come to the ceremony.  His Holiness underlined the need for religious harmony among the various different religious traditions of the world. His Holiness said that it is the common duty of all the religious leaders to build a happy humanity.  

Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay read out the Kashag’s statement. In his address, he wished His Holiness a long and healthy life and thanked him for guiding the Tibetan people for the last so many years. The Sikyong also thanked the two chief ministers for their hospitality and unwavering support towards the Tibetan community.

Geshe Rongpo Lobsang Nyandak, member of Tibetan Parliament, read out the statement of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile.

Shri Siddaramaiah, chief minister of Karnataka state, in his address, wished His Holiness a hearty happy birthday and said that His Holiness is a symbol of love and a fountain of human values.

The chief minister also said that the government and the people of Karnataka have always been there to provide assistance to the Tibetan people, and the bond between the two communities have already completed 50 years since the early 1960s.

The chief minister was presented with a ‘Thank You Karnataka’ memento by His Holiness as a mark of gratitude for the hospitality provided towards the Tibetan community. All the other guests and dignitaries were also felicitated with mementos.

Shri Nabam Tukhi, the chief minister of Arunachal Pradesh conveyed his deepest greetings to His Holiness. He said His Holiness has spread the message of love, compassion and peaceful co-existence across the globe.

His Holiness was also presented a souvenir entitled ‘Light of the Universe’during the ceremony by the abbot of Sera Jey monastery as a token of gratitude for his inspiring spiritual guidance.

The birthday celebration concluded with cultural performances by the local Indian community and by students of SOS Tibetan Children’s Village.