New Delhi September 3 – India has finally allowed the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa Ugyen Trinley Dorjee to visit areas close to China border, his aides told Indo Asian News Service.
The young head of Tibetan Buddhism’s Kagyu Sect had earlier asked for permission to visit various monasteries in Lahaul and Spiti districts of Himachal Pradesh as well as Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir in July this year. The Karmapa was earlier denied permission to visit Buddhist-dominated areas along the China border in the wake of the Beijing Olympics, sources close to the Tibetan Lama had told the media. But the Indian government had not cited any reason while denying him permission.
The Karmapa will begin his religious tour on Sep 8 with a visit to Ladakh, he will also attend prayer meetings in Lahaul and Spiti, including the world-famous Tabo monastery, which is also called the Ajanta of the Himalayas.
The Karmapa fled Tibet and arrived in India on 5 January 2000. Ever since, he has mostly lived in the Gyuto Tantric monastery in Sidhbari near Dharamsala. The Karmapa visited the United States in May 2008, his first ever trip abroad.
The Indian government continues to restrict the young Tibetan Lama to visit Rumtek Monastery in Sikkim, the seat of the 16th Karmapa Rangjung Rigpai Dorjee
