Thousands celebrate and pay tribute to the Dalai Lama as the global symbol turns 90

Thousands of devotees flocked to nan Himalayan municipality of Dharamshala, India, connected Sunday to observe nan Dalai Lama's 90th birthday, nan belief leader of Tibetan Buddhism who has been surviving successful exile since escaping Chinese authority successful Tibet successful 1959.

Many devotees included hundreds of red-robed monks and nuns who braved incessant rainfall to spot him.

“When I look backmost connected my life, I spot that I person not wasted it astatine all,” nan Dalai Lama said. “I unrecorded my life successful nan work of different sentient beings,” he added. 

Dressed successful a accepted clothes and a flowing yellowish wrap, nan Dalai Lama was escorted to nan temple courtyard by a group of monks, arsenic Tibetan artists hit drums and played bagpipes while elder lamas struck cymbals successful his honour.

Recognised worldwide successful his reddish robes and wide smile, Tenzin Gyatso, nan 14th Dalai Lama, describes himself arsenic a “simple Buddhist monk.” But millions of Tibetan Buddhists believe him arsenic nan surviving manifestation of Chenrezig, nan Buddhist deity of compassion.

The caput of nan democratically elected Tibetan government-in-exile. Penpa Tsering raised nan Tibetan emblem arsenic nan musicians played nan Tibetan anthem. 

I scheme to reincarnate aft my decease — Dalai Lama

The day statement capped a week of celebrations, during which nan Nobel Peace Prize victor said he plans to reincarnate aft his death, putting an extremity to years of speculation that he mightiness beryllium nan last personification to inhabit nan position. In accordance pinch erstwhile Buddhist traditions, he added, nan early Dalai Lama should beryllium acknowledged.

On Saturday, nan Dalai Lama said he hoped to unrecorded until nan property of 130. In nan past, nan Dalai Lama has said his successor will beryllium calved successful nan “free world”—outside China.

Many exiled Tibetans, however, fearfulness China will sanction its ain successor to nan Dalai Lama to bolster power complete Tibet, a territory it poured troops into successful 1950 and has ruled ever since.

China, which views nan Dalai Lama arsenic a separatist, has many times said that it unsocial has nan authority to o.k. nan adjacent belief leader of Tibetan Buddhism. It besides says it will cull anyone chosen without Beijing’s consent.

World leaders and celebrities sent wishes

Dignitaries, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, sent their wishes to nan Tibetan leader.

Modi said nan Dalai Lama has “been an enduring awesome of love, compassion, patience, and civilized discipline,” while Rubio said nan Buddhist belief leader “continues to animate group by embodying a connection of unity, peace, and compassion.”

The ceremony was besides attended by hundreds of followers from astir nan world, including Hollywood movie prima Richard Gere.

"He is nan astir bonzer man to ever locomotion connected this planet," said Gere, arsenic nan crowd collapsed into rapturous applause.

In a day connection connected his website connected Saturday, nan Dalai Lama reiterated that he was “just a elemental Buddhist monk” and that he will “continue to attraction connected my commitments of promoting quality values and belief harmony.”

Celebrations were besides held successful Kathmandu, Nepal, wherever hundreds of Tibetan refugees, monks, and overseas diplomats marked nan time pinch Buddhist prayers, chanting, and dances.

The Dalai Lama was thrust onto nan Tibetan throne successful 1937. Soon after, Chinese troops swept into his homeland successful nan 1950s and crushed a grounded uprising, forcing him to flight pinch thousands of his followers to India, wherever he established a authorities successful exile.

Since then, he has spent much than 7 decades successful exile and sustained a federation successful exile by managing to build a organization that’s kept nan Tibetan civilization and personality alive.

Leading a Tibetan diaspora successful their conflict for independency and guidance to China's norm complete Tibet, nan Dalai Lama has besides go 1 of nan astir recognisable individuals successful nan world.