Mongolian and Russian Buddhists offer Tenshug to His Holiness   Mongolia and Russian Buddhists offering a long prayer to His Holiness the Dalai Lama on 10 November (photo: Sangjey Kep) Dharamshala, 12 November, TibetNet: On the margins of their 5-day Buddhist festival here, some 400 Buddhists devotees from Mongolia and Russian Republics including Kalmykia, Buriyatia and Tuva offered a long life prayer (Tenshug) at a ceremony held at Tsuglagkhang, the main temple on 10 November. Thousands of Tibetans and devotees from other countries also joined in the prayer ceremony at a packed main temple courtyard. Dignitaries including Kundeling Rinpoche, justice commissioners, speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, Kalon Tripa, members of Kashag and other officials of the Central Tibetan Administration attended the prayer ceremony. In his brief address, His Holiness the Dalai Lama recounted the long-standing religious and cultural ties between Tibet and Mongolia, build over hundreds of years ago.   Devotees from Mongolia and Russian Republics waiting for their turn to offer long life prayer to His Holiness the Dalai Lama Later in the afternoon, a cultural show was organised at the temple courtyard attracting a large crowd of more thousand people. Dance troupes from Mongolia, Russian Republics of Kalmykia, Tuva and Buriyatia and Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts presented cultural songs and dances, showcasing their rich and unique culture and tradition. In their brief address, the representatives of Mongolia, Kalymikia, Tuva and Buriyatia expressed happiness to be able to collectively offer a grand long life prayer to His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The representatives lauded the support extended by His Holiness and the Central Tibetan Administration in the promotion and preservation of Buddhism in their regions.   Representative of Buriyatia addressing the gathering at a cultural show at Tsuglagkhang While greeting the Buddhists from Mongolia and Russian Republics of Kalmykia, Tuva and Buriyatia, His Holiness said, the unique religious and cultural relationship between Tibet and Mongolia dated back to hundreds of years and started before Buddhism was brought to Tibet. His Holiness said, "great changes took place in every part of the world, especially in Central Asia, and recent political upheavals led to a transitory lapse of ties between Tibet and Mongolian states." " But on the positive side, realising the long-standing deep relationship when we came into exile , there has been a revival of the bond," added His Holiness.   His Holiness the Dalai Lama addressing the gathering "With a gradual restoration of freedom in these States, there has been substantial flourishing of Buddhism and its teachings, which spread from Tibet and the great Nalanda University," said His Holiness. His Holiness said, under these positive developments, some 400 students from these states are currently studying in various religious, educational and cultural institutions in the exile Tibetan community." His Holiness expressed his happiness over frequent visits by students in the days to come and outlined the responsibility of the Tibetans in providing support to the visiting students.   Kalmykia dance troupes presenting cultural performance Later in the evening, the Kashag hosted a dinner reception to the visiting dignitaries including Kalmykia President Kirsan Illumjhinov and others delegates from the Russian Republics and Mongolia. On 9 November, at the request of Mongolian and Russian Buddhists, His Holiness conferred a one-day teaching on the 'Three Principal Paths' (lamtso namsum) by Je Tsongkhapa to a large gathering of thousands of devotees at the Tsuglagkhang.

[ Homepage ] [ NewsRoom ]



This site is maintained and updated by The Office of Tibet, the official agency of His Holiness His Holiness the Dalai Lama in London. This Web page may be linked to any other Web sites. Contents may not be altered.
Last updated: 13-Nov-2007