MINNEAPOLIS: The Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama arrived here Friday to participate in a series of events including a talk at Nobel Peace Prize Forum and the Tibetan New Year celebrations, his first ever outside India since fleeing Tibet.
A group of Tibetans under the aegis of Tibetan American Foundation of Minnesota lined up in front of the Marquette hotel in Minneapolis, carrying Tibetan traditional white scarves to welcome their leader.
Tibetan American Foundation of Minnesota, which is organizing the Tibetan New Year celebrations, said Governor Mark Dayton won’t be able to attend the ceremony due to hip surgery he underwent recently.
The newly elected Mayor of Minneapolis, Betsy Hodges has confirmed her participation in the Tibetan New Year festivities that include Buddhist rituals and cultural performances. The mayor will read “the Tibet Day proclamation in honour of the Dalai Lama and Tibet”.
“U.S. Congressman Keith Ellison, and Congresswoman Betty McCollum have also confirmed to attend the Tibetan new year celebration,” said Kalsang Phuntsok of the Tibetan American Foundation of Minnesota.
Elated Tibetans here said that President Barack Obama should make a “happy new year proclamation” to the Dalai Lama as the Tibetan spiritual leader will be celebrating the Tibetan New Year in the US for the first time ever. “Every year, White House makes happy new year press releases during Chinese new year or Indian new year or Korean new year or Vietnamese new year, and I think he should make the same to the Tibetan Americans as well,” said Namgyal Rapten, a member of the Tibetan American Foundation of Minnesota.
Submitted by Tendar Tsering
