Shimla, December 10 (ANI) — Members of the Tibetan community in Shimla gathered Wednesday to mark the 36th anniversary of the 14th Dalai Lama’s Nobel Peace Prize, an observance that coincided with World Human Rights Day. The event combined religious rituals, cultural performances and tributes.
Kyabje Khentrul Kunga Choephel Chok, head of Jonang Monastery and the chief guest, performed Mendel Tensum before a portrait of the Dalai Lama. Several community leaders and clergy — including LTA Secretary Tenzin Palden, Central Tibetan Administration Chief Representative in Shimla Lhakpa Tsering, representatives from Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti Bauddh Sewa Sang, Prof Vidhya Sagar Negi, and a number of monks — took part in the traditional offering of white scarves.
Students of the Sambhota Tibetan School led the gathering in the Tibetan and Indian national anthems and sang a song honoring the Nobel Peace Prize. Attendees observed a minute of silence for Tibetans who have self-immolated in protest, and Tibetan Buddhist monks conducted prayers and cultural performances expressing gratitude and solidarity.
Lhakpa Tsering described the day as auspicious and said the community is marking the Dalai Lama’s 90th year as ‘Karuna Divas’ (Compassion Day). He recalled the 1989 Nobel announcement and said the Dalai Lama framed the award as recognition of truth, peace and courage. Tsering reiterated the community’s commitment to nonviolence and dialogue, noting that despite the loss of their homeland and destruction of many monasteries, they continue to follow the Dalai Lama’s guidance to seek solutions through peaceful, community-to-community and country-to-country engagement.
Wangyal Lama, a Tibetan Buddhist monk, said communities across the world observe the anniversary to celebrate the Dalai Lama’s message of peace and happiness and to spread that message rather than promote conflict.
(This report is sourced from a syndicated feed and published as received.)
