Pokhara, May 17 – Over two thousand Tibetan refugees and Nepalese gathered at the Tashiling Tibetan Refugee Camp for an inter-faith mass prayer for ‘world peace’ and for the ‘solace of recent departed brave souls in Tibet’. Tibetans from all the four refugee camps gathered at the Doegu-khiel hall at 8:00 a.m. and recited Om Mani Pedme Hun, Dolma and other Tibetan Buddhist prayers for four hours. A total of two thousand Tsoks were offered. All the invited Nepalese guests arrived at 10:00 a.m. and the formal function commenced thereafter. Pokhara Tibetan Solidarity Committee’s Spokesperson Tsering Siten welcomed all the guests and said, “We are congregated here to offer this inter-faith mass prayer for those who lost their lives in Tibet. This is also aimed at the victims of the recent unfortunate deaths due to natural calamities which took place in Burma and China”.
Huge photos of the brutal killings in Tibet and recent natural devastation in Burma and China were displayed for public awareness. Thereafter, Tulku Lobsang Jamyang of Shree Dhargyeling Monastery gave Buddhist teaching which was translated into Nepalese. Acharya Karma Sangpo spoke in the local language about Buddha Dharma. Hindu, Christian, Muslim and Buddhist religious figures offered prayers one after another. The camp hall was appropriately decorated with big Tibetan Thangkas, most conspicuous among them was Lord Buddha’s scroll and a majestic throne of His Holiness the Dalai Lama where his ever-smiling colorful portrait was seated. Due to shortage of space, all the guests lit candles outside the hall. A thousand butter lamps could be seen burning bright in the sun. A huge shamiana tent was erected next to the hall where groups of Tibetans sat praying.
The Pokhara local Buddha Jayanti Committee’s President Mr. Hari Dhoj Tulachan spoke about the close relationship between peace of the mind and peace of the world. Before concluding the mass prayer, all mourned for a minute in silence. Mr. Sonam Sangpo then thanked the guests and different media personnel for regularly covering Tibetan programs. Tea and Tsoks were distributed among all Nepali participants during which the Tibetans chanted ‘The truthful worded prayers’ composed by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. Thus, the inter-faith mass prayer program concluded successfully .
Report submitted by Tibetan Solidarity Committee, Pokhara
