The milling crowd, which lined the streets of Kurseong, Sonada and Ghoom waiting to pay obeisance to the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists, included domestic and international tourists. As the motorcade passed through the town, they cheered. The Dalai Lama obliged by waving back.
His Holiness entered the Raj Bhavan compound around 4.30 pm, half-an-hour before schedule.
Security had been beefed up, and entry into the Raj Bhavan area was strictly monitored.
Only around 30 people, representing the eight Buddhist organisations in the town, were allowed to enter Darbar Hall of Raj Bhavan for a brief interactive session.
If he was tired from the journey, it did not show. The first thing the Dalai Lama asked after taking his seat on the Shudhi (a special seat built for his Holiness), was a count of the number of representatives present.
The Dalai Lama said: “I have a special blessing because I too am a follower of Buddha. I follow the teachings of Buddha and will preach the same things to the people.”
Even as his followers bowed their heads in reverence, the Lama said: “From tomorrow, I will be able to meet you for the teachings.”
As part of today’s ceremonial welcome, the audience was served decee, a dish of rice mixed with butter and dried fruit. Everyone was then served solja, (Tibetan tea). His Holiness asked the people to drink the solja and relax.
Devotees like Roshan Kant Ghisingh, who was paying a darshan to His Holiness for the first time, said: “It was encouraging to see people belonging to all communities, like Tamangs and Sherpas, attend the ceremony”.
While Subash Ghisingh was lucky to meet the Lama, others like Yankee Doma Sherpa of Gandhi Road, who had gone for a darshan with her son Tenzing, said: “I felt like crying when he waved at us.”
The Dalai Lama, who will spend a week here, is scheduled to attend functions at St Joseph’s grounds tomorrow and in the days to follow.
