Tibetan exiles celebrate Dalai Lama's 74th birthday, Karmapa attends ceremony in Dharamsala

Tibetans living in exile in Dharamsala celebrated the 74th birthday of Buddhist spiritual leader Dalai Lama today.

Born in 1935 in Tibet, Lhamo Thondup was recognized as the reincarnation of 13th Dalai Lama, at the age of 2.

Scores of Tibetans gathered at main Buddhist temple, Tsugalgkhang and prayed for the long life and health of their leader.

He (Dalai Lama) himself is in Delhi to attend another meeting where former President of India Mr. Kalam is the chief guest. Here, it is the official celebration of the Tibetan government in exile, and six parliamentarians from Australia are also here as chief guest," said Lobsang Wangyal, a Tibetan youth.

The Central Tibetan Administration organized the function.

Hoping to celebrate Dalai Lama's birthday in Lhasa one day, thousands of Buddhist monks, nuns and exiled government officials took part in the celebrations.

"All our effort is based on this firm conviction and hope that we will return to Tibet in circumstances which satisfy the majority of Tibetan people and will celebrate both our Losar and his Holiness' next birthday in Lhasa," said Thubten Samphel, Spokesperson Of The Government-In-Exile.

The Dalai Lama was brought to Lhasa in October 1939, and formally installed the head of the state of Tibet on February 22, 1940.
"Visiting Australian parliamentarians also participated in various religious and cultural functions," Taklha added.

A delegation of six Australian parliamentarians comprising Labour MPs Michael Danby and Melissa Parke, Liberal MP Peter Slipper, independent senator Nick Xenophon, and Greens Senators Scott Ludlam and Sarah Hanson-Young are on a week-long visit here.

However, the Tibetan temporal head did not attend the functions here.

"The Dalai Lama was in New Delhi to attend the birthday celebrations organized by the Himalayan Buddhist Cultural Association and the All Buddhist Organization of Himalayan Region," Taklha said. Last year, the Nobel laureate's birthday celebrations were largely subdued due to unrest in Tibet.

About 134,000 Tibetans live in exile, the vast majority in India or Nepal, and of them less than half were born in their homeland.