Jamphel Shonu, Press Officer of the Central Tibetan Administration in Dharamshala said that Tomorrow the Official 82nd Birthday Celebration the Dalai Lama shall be conducted at Tsuglagkhang, the main Tibetan temple adjacent to Dalai Lama’s residence in upper Dharamshala Himachal India. He said the Chief Guest of the morning session will be Shri Kishan Kapoor, Former Minister of State for Industries and Transport Himachal. Tibetan National flag shall be hosted by the officiating President (Sikyong) in presence of the Chief Guest and all the officials of the Central Tibetan Administration.
There shall be Offering of Mendreltensum (symbolic representation of Buddha’s body, speech and mind) to a portrait of His Holiness the Dalai Lama by the officiating President followed by offering of Khatags, ceremonial Tibetan scarves by honourable Chief Justice Commissioner, Honourable Speaker and Deputy Speaker Tibetan Parliament in Exile, members of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s immediate family, Tibetan Justice Commissioners, former Kalons, heads of the three autonomous bodies of Central Tibetan Administration. There shall be the cultural program by Artistes of Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA). Artists of Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA) shall especially present a song in praise of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s mother.
Chief Justice Commissioner of Tibet will launch a book titled ‘Dalai Lama on Environment’ compiled by Environment Development Desk. Deputy Speaker of Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile shall also release a book titled ‘Tibet’s Past, Present and Future’ and a pictorial book ‘Glimpse on the History of Tibet’ published by China Desk of Department of Information and International Relations (DIIR). Chief Guest Shri Kishan Kapoor will release Department of Education’s three science video teachings for class IIIrd to Vth stored in Pen Drive, a project funded by Norwegian Church Aid. The Speaker to deliver the statement of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile. Officiating President to deliver the Statement of the Kashag.
Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibetans in exile, is all set to celebrate his 82nd birthday in Ladakh on July 6, less than a year after the Chinese and Indian soldiers engaged in a major stand-off in the area when Chinese troops stopped work on the construction of an irrigation canal being built under the rural development or MNREGA scheme. This year’s celebrations come in the backdrop of Indo-China standoff near the border in Sikkim. China has accused India of “betraying” a British-era territorial understanding of their border in Sikkim. Dalai Lama who fled Tibet’s capital Lhasa in 1959 after the Chinese intrusion, will turn 82 on July 6. Fondly referred to as “ His Holiness” by the Tibetan community, Tenzin Gyatso is currently on retreat at Leh.
