Dharamshala: Hundreds of Tibetans including monks and nuns living in exile in India celebrated the 25th birthday of His Holiness 17th Gyalwa Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorjee with long-life prayers in Dharamshala Yesterday. Monks of Rumtek Monastery in Sikkim also celebrated his 25th Birth-day anniversary.Mr. Anyetsang Thupten Tashi, Justice Commissioner, Mr. Sonam Damdul, Kagyu Member of Parliament in exile, Mr. Khorlatsang Sonam Tobgyal, secretary of the Financial department; Mrs. Nangsa Choedon, secretary for the public service commission and Mr. Tsering Phuntsok, a representative officer of Dharamsala were among the dignitaries of the Tibetan Government in Exile.
Hundreds of Tibetans including monks and nuns and a huge numbers of international devotees gathered at the Gyuto Tantra monastery near Dharamsala to offer the well-being and long life prayers for the 17th Karmapa as he turns 25 yesterday. The traditional Mandala offering was followed by a well-being and long life prayers (Tib: Tenshug) at the prayer ceremony events. Mr. Gonpo Phuntsok, the Secretary of the Department of Religion and Culture, offered His Holiness well wishes on behalf of the Tibetan government in exile.
However, this year, no traditional singing and dancing programmes were organized because of the demise of Penor Rinpoche, the head of the Buddhist sect; Nyingmapa and also due to the mass killings of 220 Tibetans and arresting other thousands by Chinese authorities in Tibet last year.His Holiness Karmapa is respected as one of the most important religious figure in Tibetan communities regarding Tibetan Buddhism. He was born on June 26, 1985 in Kham region of eastern Tibet and was recognized by the Tibetan's spiritual leader, His Holiness the Dalai Lama for the reincarnation of 16th Karmapa Rinpoche.
