By Phurbu Thinley
Dharamsala, July 6: The courtyard of the Tsuglagkhang (Main Temple) was this morning packed with Tibetans, Indians and foreign tourists enjoying the official celebration of the 72nd Birthday of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet.
The exiled Tibetan leader turned 72 today, but did not show up for the public function attended by top officials of the Tibetan government in Exile, including Kalon Tripa (Prime Minister) Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche, Chairman Karma Choephel, Deputy Speaker, Gyari Dolma, Supreme Justice Commission and Justice Commission, and other Kalons of the Central Tibetan Administration.
The 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, who recently turned 22, and Kyabje Trulshik Rinpoche, one of the greatest living masters of the Nyingma tradition of the Tibetan Buddhism were present during the morning function.
Himachal Pradesh State Tourism and Transport Minister G.S. Bali was the chief guest of the ceremony.
Earlier in the morning, Sangsol (Incense burning) and prayer session was held at Lha Gyal Ri for the long life of the Dalai Lama.
At an unusual function this morning, Tibetan parliament-in-exile has invited the oldest couple in Himachal Pradesh to sanctify the Dalai Lama’s 72nd birthday celebration.
The couple was presented souvenirs as per Indian tradition.
“103-year-old retired Army soldier, Thakur Pyara Singh, and his 101-year-old wife Hansa Devi, have been married for 84 years and formalities to recognise them possibly as the oldest living couple on earth by the Guinness Book of World Records are underway,” said Mr Karma Choephel, Chairman of the Tibetan Assembly in his felicitation speech.
According to Tibetan custom, the blessing of old people wards off obstacles from a person’s life.
In a very elated tone, Mr Pyara, in his acceptance speech, wished His Holiness the Dalai Lama a long and continued healthy life.
Tibetan Government in Exile and Tibetan communities have been holding occasional ceremonies to ward off obstacles that may come in His Holiness’s life this year.
According to Tibetan tradition, His Holiness is already 73 years old, although officially he turned 72 today. Tibetans believe 73rd is one of the obstructive years in one’s life time.
Accordingly, a Tibetan voluntary organization and Regional Tibetan Women’s Association, Dharamsala have been urging Tibetans to strictly go Vegetarian on the Dalai Lama’s bithday in an effort to reduce obstacles in the personal life of the Dalai Lama.
A special panel set up by the parliament-in-exile has drawn up elaborate celebrations for the Tibetan leader’s birthday.
A high level committee of both the Kashag and the Tibetan Assembly has been formed to organise special ceremonies to ward off obstacles that may come in the life of his holiness, the Dalai Lama, this year.
15 traditional Tibetan songs and dance items were presented during the later part of the function by various institutional bodies, including rare performances by schools from remote and faraway areas of Spiti and Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh.
Kalon Tripa, Samdhong Rinpoche in his Kashag speech, said that the Tibetan Envoys have returned yesterday to India after sixth round of talks with China, but did not emphasised on the details of the visit or divulged accounts of breakthrough if made any.
The Envoys of the Dalai Lama have earlier on June 29 left for China for the sixth round of Sino-Tibetan talk since the dialogue process resumed in 2002.
In his speech, Rinpoche called on Tibetans to exert their energy positively wherein Beijing could be compelled to properly address the Tibet issue – rather than creating situation to make them lose their courage and resist from coming forward to engage in the dialogue process.
Although Rinpoche did not explicitly specified calls on Tibetans to refrain from organising loathing anti-China protests, he said that every Tibetan must sincerely pursue the path of the Middle-Way Approach and non-violence with full conviction.
In his official speech, Kalon Tripa formally put forward an 11 alternative action plans for Tibetan activism that he said would not jeopardise the efforts to forge a conducive environment for Sino-Tibetan dialogue process. The proposed action plans, seemingly constructive in its approach, are aimed at empowering sustenance of Tibetan identity in the long run and are broadly categorised as educational, social, economic, religion and culture.
Mr. G. S. Bali on behalf of the people and Government of the Himachal State said, “We all wish His Holiness a long and healthy holy life.” “We are fortunate and blessed that His Holiness has Chosen this state his second homeland” he added.
On the occasion, Mr Bali announced State Government’s 3 Crore Rupees sanction that will be used to improve infrastructure, parking and transport facilities and, for other beautification purposes in and around McLeodGanj town.
Mr Karma Choephel also addressed the public on behalf of the Tibetan Assembly.
As usual, several civil servants of the Central Tibetan Administration were felicitated for their distinguished and dedicated long term service.
As part of the Dalai Lama’s celebration, the final match of the RTYC Basketball Tournament. 2007 will be played at TIPA in the afternoon. Later in the evening, a newly founded Tibetan theatre group- Aku Tonpa Theatre Group, led by Mr Sonam Choephel will be launched with their first public drama show.
