By Kelsang Rinchen,
Phayul Reporter
Dharamsala, May 16 – In what turned out to be one of the major official functions this year, hundreds gathered at the Tsuklakhang courtyard to take part in a year’s successful completion of the celebration of 360th anniversary of Gaden Phodrang government of Tibet.
The day began with the longlife prayer offering to His Holiness the Dalai Lama in the main temple at 7 in the morning. Also present on the occasion were the Chairman and Vice Chair of the Assembly of Tibetan People’s Deputies, Kalon Tripa and his Cabinet colleagues, former Kalons, Lamas of various sects of Tibetan Buddhism, members of the Assembly, Secretaries of the various departments of the Central Tibetan Administration, representatives of the Tibetan non governmental organisations, and the officials of the Tibetan exile government.
The Central Tibetan Administration, on 17 May last year, began a yearlong celebration of this Gaden Phodrang government which began to function as the paramount body of both religious and political affairs of Tibet when Mongolian King Ghurshi Tenzin Choegyal offered Tibet’s political sovereignty to the fifth Dalai Lama Lobsang Gyatso in 1642.
Cultural dances and songs were performed in honour of His Holiness the Dalai Lama who watched the performances with great enthusiasm.
A two-volume book of Department of Information and International Relations was inaugurated today by the Kalon Tripa who offered the first copy each of the books to His Holiness the Dalai Lama after Mr. Sonam Dagpo, the Additional Secretary of the Department of Information and International Relations, gave a brief introductory remark about the book.
In his address to the gathering of government officials and Lamas after the longlife ceremony, His Holiness the Dalai Lama said that education (Sheyon) and dedication (Lhaksam) should both be imbibed by the Tibetans for betterment of all the sentient beings.
He said that Tibetans have long cultivated virtual behaviourism (Lhaksam) in themselves and that it should be preserved eternally.
In what seem to be a symbolic gesture of a well functioning exile government, the modern day Gaden Phodrang, better known as Central Tibetan Administration, remained open after the function.
The second day’s programme will be held tomorrow at Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts.
Kelsang Rinchen can be contacted at kalsangr@yahoo.com.
