Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama would celebrate his 83rd birthday in Ladakh in Jammu Kashmir, a spokesperson of Tibetan government-in-exile said on Tuesday.
The spokesperson said on 6 July, a grand celebration in honour of the 83rd birthday of Dalai Lama will be held at Shiwatsel Phodrang.
“The President of the Central Tibetan Administration Dr Lobsang Sangay will also be attending the 83rd birthday celebrations,” he said.
Dalai Lama’s birthday falls on 6 July and he arrived in Ladakh to attend the scheduled celebrations. Tibetan spiritual leader was welcomed upon his arrival for 19-day visit to Ladakh by thousands of devotees who lined up the streets to Shiwatsel Phodrang with flowers and adornments to welcome him.
Addressing the gathering of religious and local community leaders, he commended the progress made by the Buddhist institutions and monasteries in Ladakh in the field of training and education. He expressed his joy at being able to visit Ladakh once again. Dalai Lama recalled a meeting with a group from Himalayan region who proposed a project to support the Tibetan Buddhist monasteries in Mon region and Ladakh and help establish them as institutes of Buddhist studies.
He heaped praises for the initiative and said it was very commendable and benevolent work. “Since the weather here is warm and dry, I thought it would be good for my joint pain if I stayed here for some time,” he told the members.
From 10 to 12 July, His Holiness will give teachings on Shantideva’s – A Guide to the Bodhisatva’s Way of Life (Tib: Chodjug).
He will also participate in the Yarcho Chenmo – the annual ‘Summer Buddhist Council’ of philosophical debate and discussion – from July 18 to 20 at Samstanling Gonpa Sumoor in Nubra besides teachings in Nubra as well as in Leh at Shiwatsel teaching ground.