Tsering Dhundup
DHARAMSHALA, Mar. 20: The Tawang District Administration has announced a six-day trekking event titled the ‘Freedom Trail’ of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to commemorate the Tibetan spiritual leader’s historic escape from Tibet in 1959. The event, set to begin on March 31, will retrace the path taken by the Dalai Lama when he entered India as a refugee 66 years ago.
Deputy Commissioner Kanki Darang made the official announcement on Wednesday, stating that the foot march will commence from Khen-Dze-Mane in Arunachal Pradesh and conclude in Tawang on April 5. The journey will take participants through significant historical sites, including Chuudangmo, Gorzam Chorten, Shakti, Lungla, and Thongleng, before reaching Tawang. Each stop will serve as a moment of reflection, mirroring the Dalai Lama’s own pauses during his arduous journey in 1959.
March 31 marks exactly 66 years since the Dalai Lama and his entourage of eighty people first stepped into the Mon region of India after fleeing Norbulingka Palace in Tibet. The 24-year-old spiritual leader endured an exhausting trek, travelling day and night before finally crossing into India via the Ke-Dze-Mani mountain pass. Upon arrival, he was received by T.S. Murti, the Assistant Political Officer of Tawang, along with security personnel from the 5 Assam Rifles and local residents of Jemeithang.
Organisers emphasise that the trekking event aims not only to honour the Dalai Lama’s journey but also to spread his message of peace, non-violence, and compassion. Participants will have the opportunity to engage in spiritual reflection and gain a deeper understanding of the resilience and struggles faced by the Tibetan people.
Reflecting on his escape, the Dalai Lama shared in a past interview with The Times of India:
“I get emotional because in 1959, when I escaped from Tibet, I came from this route. I was physically very weak. Mentally, there was a lot of anxiety, hopelessness, and helplessness. It was difficult. The local people here and also officials extended a very, very warm welcome. So I get emotional every time I visit Tawang.”
The district administration has invited the public to participate in what they describe as a deeply spiritual and historically significant event. The trek aims to inspire people to implement the Dalai Lama’s teachings of harmony and compassion in their daily lives, reinforcing his enduring legacy in the region.
