By Tendar Tsering
DHARAMSHALA, February 20: Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama will preside over the early morning Losar, Tibetan New Year official ceremony on February 22 at Tsug-la Khang, at the main temple in Mcleod Ganj, Dharamshala.
According to the Dalai Lama’s private office, some of the local Indian senior citizens will also attend the official ceremony.
Following the ceremony, which includes prayer sessions and traditional rituals, Tibetans, led by the members of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile will begin a day long campaign in solidarity with Tibetans inside Tibet.
The day long hunger strike will begin at 10 am IST with the rendition of the Tibetan National anthem and a minute’s mourning for the victims of police firings and self-immolations in Tibet.
According to the Central Tibetan Administration, 23 Tibetans have set their bodies on fire demanding the return of the Dalai Lama from exile and freedom in Tibet. Last week alone, three Tibetans torched their bodies protesting China’s continued occupation of Tibet.
Nangdrol, an 18 year-old Tibetan from Dzamthang, Ngaba, eastern Tibet died immediately after torching his body yesterday.
The parliamentarians will observe a prayer session followed by the screening of video clips depicting the critical situation inside Tibet throughout the day.
The day long hunger strike will end with a candle light vigil in the evening.
The Tibetan Parliament had earlier urged Tibetans all over the globe to observe fasting on February 22 to show solidarity and support with Tibetans inside Tibet.
The Tibetan leadership in exile and rights groups have expressed fear of more self-immolations and bloodshed as many parts of Tibet continue to remain under an undeclared martial law with Chinese security personnel gunning down unarmed Tibetan protesters in recent weeks.
Article re-edited on February 20, 2012 15:29 IST
