PORAYAR, January 15 - It was altogether a different experience for the tsunami survivors in Nagapattinam district when a team of Tibetan monks arrived at the devastated town on Pongal (harvest festival of Tamil Nadu) and toured the affected parts consoling the victims.

Carrying the blessings of Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama and contributions of the Tibetans, 30 monks from the Garden Jangtse Monastery, Tibet, met District Collector Dr J Radhakrishnan yesterday and handed over relief materials such as 800 bags of rice, 12 bags sugar, and utensils.

"We understand their pain. The victims need help from all quarters. His holiness the Dalai Lama has already made his generous contribution to the Prime Minister's relief fund. Tibetans are collecting contributions from the general public in Tibet and it will be sent to the affected areas soon," a monk of the monastery told PTI.

They conducted a prayer in the collectorate for the Tsunami victims and survivors. Later, the monks visited various affected areas. At the worst-hit Akkaraipettai village, the monks met the affected people and consoled them.

Though their words of consolation were in their language and the affected people conversed with them in Tamil, there seemed to be no need for any translation on either side.

The monks conducted prayers in front of the sea at Akkaraipettai, Seruthur, Velankanni, Nagore and Keechankuppam villages.