Dalai Lama arrives in Zanskar after weather delays

By Tsering Dhundup

DHARAMSHALA, July 21: Following a two-day delay caused by inclement weather, the foremost Buddhist leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama, arrived in Zanskar this morning to a heartfelt and jubilant welcome by the local community.

Initially scheduled to arrive on Saturday, July 19, at the request of the people of Zanskar, His Holiness’s travel plans were disrupted due to heavy clouds and rain that made helicopter travel unsafe. On Sunday, another attempt was made to depart from Leh, but the journey had to be aborted due to thick black clouds over the Nyemo region, forcing His Holiness to return to the Leh Palace.

However, at around 7 a.m. today, with clear skies and favourable conditions, His Holiness successfully flew by helicopter into Padum, the headquarters of the Zanskar subdivision in Ladakh. He was warmly received at the helipad by crowds of devotees and local officials, who had gathered in great anticipation. Traditional welcome ceremonies lined the route from the helipad to Karsha Monastery, where His Holiness was formally greeted with prayers and offerings.

Upon arrival at Karsha Monastery, His Holiness inaugurated the newly constructed palace (Phodrang) and also participated in the opening of a Mega Symposium. Addressing a gathering of lamas, tulkus, monks, and community leaders, he reflected on Tibet’s history of religious freedom prior to the Chinese occupation, noting that Tibet once enjoyed complete religious freedom, but that this was lost after the arrival of the Chinese Communist regime, which not only stripped away political freedoms but also dismissed the Buddhist faith as mere superstition.

He stressed that Tibetan Buddhism is a tradition grounded in logic and scientific reasoning rather than blind belief. He highlighted the importance of analysing and investigating the teachings through reasoning, rather than relying solely on scripture.

The original program for His Holiness’s visit included a series of summer teachings, public audiences, religious ceremonies, and the granting of long-life empowerments. However, due to the unexpected delays, the detailed schedule remains unannounced.

The Nobel Peace Laureate first visited the Zanskar region in 1980, and this year’s visit marks his return after a three-year gap.