Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 6 Jul: A grand celebration was held on Sunday at the Tibetan Colony Football Ground in Clement Town here, today, on the occasion of the 90th birthday of the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso. The event was organised by the Tirupati Kalyan Office at the Tibetan Nehru Memorial School.
State Cabinet Minister of Tourism, Religious Affairs, Culture, Public Works, Irrigation, Panchayati Raj, Rural Construction and Watershed Management Satpal Maharaj attended as the Chief Guest.
In his address, Satpal Maharaj described the Dalai Lama as the living embodiment of compassion. He said that the Dalai Lama is not only an extraordinary Buddhist monk but also the spiritual leader of Tibet and a global symbol of peace and compassion. The Dalai Lama is believed to be the incarnation of Avalokiteshvara or Chenrezig—the Bodhisattva of Compassion and protector deity of Tibet—who has vowed to take rebirth for the welfare of all sentient beings.
The Minister extended heartfelt birthday greetings to His Holiness and stated, “The Dalai Lama’s life transcends any one religion, nation, or language. Even in exile, even in suffering, he has taught the world that non-violence is true strength, and embracing the pain of others is true compassion.”
Quoting the Dalai Lama, he added, “If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy yourself, practice compassion.” Maharaj emphasised that this is not merely advice, but the way the Dalai Lama lives his life—a message the modern world deeply needs.
Satpal Maharaj expressed his pride that India, the sacred land where Lord Buddha was born, has also had the honour of giving refuge to the Dalai Lama. He said, “Our cultural and spiritual connection with the Dalai Lama is not just a legacy of the past—it is a living dialogue of peace, coexistence, and humanity in the present.”
