DHARAMSHALA, January 31: The Tibetan spiritual leader HIs Holiness the Dalai Lama has appealed Tibetans in Tibet to be careful about incidents of fire in their areas. His Holiness the Dalai Lama has expressed his condolences to the individuals and monasteries affected by the recent incidents of fire in Serta Larung Gar monastery, Lithang monastery and Gyalthang’s old town.
In a statement by the Gaden Phodrang, the Tibetan leader’s private office based here, His Holiness has
appealed Tibetans to be careful while using inflammable objects including gas stoves, cylinders, electricity and butter lamp offerings. The Tibetan leader has also recommended precautionary steps including standard fire extinguishers and safety tips.
His Holiness also conveyed his prayers for those affected by the fire incidents while calling on fellow Tibetans to maintain unity among themselves and never to indulge in internal conflicts. The 78 year old Nobel Laureate has also asked local monasteries to offer prayers.
A massive fire broke out on the night of November 16, last year in 433 year old Ganden Thubchen Choekhorling monastery in Lithang gutting its main prayer hall.
On January 9, a fire broke out in Serta Larung Gar monastery in Serta County destroying around 80 nuns’ quarters. Within less than 24 hours, a third fire broke out in Gaylthang’s old town destroying over 300 homes.
The Tibetan leader on Thursday left for New Delhi from where he will head to Guwahati, Assam, to grace the first ever Tibet festival in the northeastern city that is often called ‘the gateway to the east’ on Feb. 2. His Holiness the Dalai Lama will also visit Shillong, where a sizable number of Tibetan refugees live, and address the 6th Convocation of the Martin Luther Christian University on Feb. 3. His Holiness will give a religious discourse to the Buddhist Community on Feb. 4. His Holiness will also participate in an inter-faith event in the afternoon at the State Central Library in Shillong. This will be the Tibetan leader’s first visit to Shillong.
