PHOTOS: Dalai Lama celebrates 90th birthday, says he hopes to live beyond 130 years

[ad_1] DHARAMSALA, India — Amid the sound of drums, music, and applause, the Dalai Lama stepped into Dharamsala’s most important temple courtyard on Sunday, his ninetieth birthday.

Welcomed by Tibetan cultural performers, the Tibetan religious chief was greeted by schoolchildren wearing uniforms, monks, and residents, each younger and previous, of their most interesting conventional apparel.

'I hope to dwell past 130 years': Dalai Lama says on eve of ninetieth birthday The stage featured a backdrop proclaiming a “12 months of Compassion” with photos of Nelson Mandela, Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., and Mom Teresa. The Dalai Lama was seated alongside Indian authorities officers and leaders from the Tibetan exiled authorities. Additionally on the dais was actor Richard Gere — a longtime Tibetan rights supporter — and his son.

“To all my pals, on my ninetieth birthday celebration, you may have gathered right here fortunately with nice pleasure and robust pleasure in your coronary heart,” mentioned the Dalai Lama. “And I wish to thank everybody.”

Birthday messages from worldwide leaders together with former U.S. Presidents Clinton, Bush, and Obama had been shared from the stage.

“Your unwavering devotion resonates with all those that cherish freedom, democracy and respect for human rights, values that the folks of Taiwan maintain expensive,” mentioned Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te in a press release.

“Within the face of regional and world challenges, we stay dedicated to fostering a peaceable and sustainable future for the subsequent generations primarily based upon understanding, dialogue.”

A contingent from Taiwan performs throughout celebrations on the ninetieth birthday of the Dalai Lama on the Most important Temple in Dharamsala, India, July 6, 2025. (Tenzin Woser/RFA Tibetan) Sunday’s celebration capped every week of occasions; most notable was Wednesday’s reaffirmation by the Tibetan religious chief that the Dalai Lama lineage would proceed, with the subsequent reincarnation to be chosen by the Gaden Phodrang Belief, a non-profit group that he arrange, rejecting strikes by China to steer his succession.

In response, the Chinese language overseas ministry reiterated that the number of a brand new Dalai Lama should comply with Chinese language legislation and that it needed to happen in China.

<img src="https://www.rfa.org/resizer/v2/YSBYVALBBJDOBHMVLPMOON3SUM.JPG?auth=acdee2008b8bb8a2f7b855ef64df0b9466a124710902273b83855dd4536b3ca2&smart=true&width=1500" alt="Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama is seated beneath an image of Nelson Mandela during celebrations on the 90th birthday of the Dalai Lama at the Main Temple in Dharamsala, India, July 6, 2025. At left is Kiren Rijiju, Indian Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Minister of Minority Affairs." height="4000" width="1500" /> Tibetan religious chief the Dalai Lama is seated beneath a picture of Nelson Mandela throughout celebrations on the ninetieth birthday of the Dalai Lama on the Most important Temple in Dharamsala, India, July 6, 2025. At left is Kiren Rijiju, Indian Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Minister of Minority Affairs. (Tenzin Woser/RFA Tibetan) Following feedback by Indian minister Kiren Rijiju on Friday in assist of the Dalai Lama’s succession plans, China’s overseas ministry warned India to be prudent in its phrases and actions.

“We hope the Indian facet will totally perceive the extremely delicate nature of Tibet-related points, acknowledge the anti-China separatist nature of the 14th Dalai Lama,” mentioned spokesperson Mao Ning.

In a press release launched Saturday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio despatched birthday needs and mentioned, “We assist efforts to protect Tibetans’ distinct linguistic, cultural, and spiritual heritage, together with their skill to freely select and venerate non secular leaders with out interference.”

Talking at Sunday’s occasion, Pema Khandu, India’s Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, mentioned, “[We] reaffirm our collective dedication to uphold the standard Tibetan Buddhism course of for the popularity of his reincarnation according to the steering of Gaden Phodrang Belief.”

In Dharamsala, reporting by Dawa Dolma and visible reporting by Tenzin Woser; edited by Charlie Dharapak

A birthday cake for Tibetan religious chief the Dalai Lama and a bust are seen throughout celebrations on the ninetieth birthday of the Dalai Lama on the Most important Temple in Dharamsala, India, July 6, 2025. (Tenzin Woser/RFA Tibetan) A lady and baby in conventional Tibetan garments throughout celebrations on the ninetieth birthday of the Dalai Lama on the Most important Temple in Dharamsala, India, July 6, 2025. (Tenzin Woser/RFA Tibetan) Tibetan religious chief the Dalai Lama arrives on the stage throughout celebrations on the ninetieth birthday of the Dalai Lama on the Most important Temple in Dharamsala, India, July 6, 2025. (Tenzin Woser/RFA Tibetan) A Tibetan monk listens throughout celebrations on the ninetieth birthday of the Dalai Lama on the Most important Temple in Dharamsala, India, July 6, 2025. (Tenzin Woser/RFA Tibetan) A devotee listens throughout celebrations on the ninetieth birthday of the Dalai Lama on the Most important Temple in Dharamsala, India, July 6, 2025. (Tenzin Woser/RFA Tibetan) The Dalai Lama speaks with actor Richard Gere throughout celebrations on the ninetieth birthday of the Dalai Lama on the Most important Temple in Dharamsala, India, July 6, 2025. (Tenzin Woser/RFA Tibetan) Younger kids carry out throughout celebrations on the ninetieth birthday of the Dalai Lama on the Most important Temple in Dharamsala, India, July 6, 2025. (Tenzin Woser/RFA Tibetan) <img src="https://www.rfa.org/resizer/v2/HAUJO2WRLZC63ATXXGC2AD2R3Y.JPG?auth=ca625202f9f6461364a5a6c19e7bda6c3b1d2852cd60d08516f87abdd6a9f9d7&smart=true&width=1500" alt="An Indian security officer stands watch as Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama is seated on stage with Indian officials during celebrations on the 90th birthday of the Dalai Lama at the Main Temple in Dharamsala, India, July 6, 2025." height="2667" width="1500" /> An Indian safety officer stands watch as Tibetan religious chief the Dalai Lama is seated on stage with Indian officers throughout celebrations on the ninetieth birthday of the Dalai Lama on the Most important Temple in Dharamsala, India, July 6, 2025. (Tenzin Woser/RFA Tibetan) A baby is lifted increased to see the stage throughout celebrations on the ninetieth birthday of the Dalai Lama on the Most important Temple in Dharamsala, India, July 6, 2025. (Tenzin Woser/RFA Tibetan) Actor and Tibetan rights supporter Richard Gere speaks throughout celebrations on the ninetieth birthday of the Dalai Lama on the Most important Temple in Dharamsala, India, July 6, 2025. (Tenzin Woser/RFA Tibetan) Devotees attend the celebrations on the ninetieth birthday of the Dalai Lama on the Most important Temple in Dharamsala, India, July 6, 2025. (Tenzin Woser/RFA Tibetan) Tibetan Buddhist leaders are seated throughout celebrations on the ninetieth birthday of the Dalai Lama on the Most important Temple in Dharamsala, India, July 6, 2025. (Tenzin Woser/RFA Tibetan) A devotee listens throughout celebrations on the ninetieth birthday of the Dalai Lama on the Most important Temple in Dharamsala, India, July 6, 2025. (Tenzin Woser/RFA Tibetan) Tibetan non secular leaders applaud throughout celebrations on the ninetieth birthday of the Dalai Lama on the Most important Temple in Dharamsala, India, July 6, 2025. (Tenzin Woser/RFA Tibetan) A devotee listens throughout celebrations on the ninetieth birthday of the Dalai Lama on the Most important Temple in Dharamsala, India, July 6, 2025. (Tenzin Woser/RFA Tibetan) Devotees attend the celebrations on the ninetieth birthday of the Dalai Lama on the Most important Temple in Dharamsala, India, July 6, 2025. (Tenzin Woser/RFA Tibetan) Photos of Tibetan religious chief the Dalai Lama are displayed throughout celebrations on the ninetieth birthday of the Dalai Lama on the Most important Temple in Dharamsala, India, July 6, 2025. (Tenzin Woser/RFA Tibetan) [ad_2] Source link