logo
Himachal Pradesh: Tibetan community celebrates Dalai Lama's 90th birthday in Shimla

Himachal Pradesh: Tibetan community celebrates Dalai Lama's 90th birthday in Shimla

India Gazette9 hours ago
Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], July 6 (ANI): The Tibetan community-in-exile celebrated the 90th birthday of the 14th Dalai Lama with traditional fervour and devotion at the Sambhota Tibetan School in Chhota Shimla on Sunday.
The event was marked by vibrant cultural performances, prayers, and speeches from dignitaries, including the Deputy Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Mukesh Agnihotri, who was present as the chief guest.
Addressing the gathering, Deputy CM Agnihotri announced a major initiative to promote and preserve Tibetan culture and tradition through the Department of Language, Art and Culture under the Himachal Pradesh government.
'There is a need to further strengthen the traditional and cultural ties between India and Tibet,' said Agnihotri while addressing the Tibetan community members at the event.
'In all upcoming fairs, festivals and cultural events in Himachal Pradesh, Tibetan cultural performances and traditions will be given prominence,' he declared.
Agnihotri emphasised the spiritual and cultural significance of the Dalai Lama's presence in Himachal Pradesh.
'His Holiness the Dalai Lama's presence in Himachal Pradesh is a matter of great pride for us. He is not just a spiritual leader of Tibet but a global ambassador of peace. The Central Tibetan Administration has been operating peacefully from Dharamshala for decades now. Initially, it functioned for a year from Mussoorie, but since then, McLeodganj, known as 'Mini Tibet', has become the heart of Tibetan exile in India,' he added.
He also highlighted the state's deep-rooted cultural ties with the Tibetan community.
'The Himachal government has granted voting rights to Tibetans. We recognise the importance of preserving Tibetan customs, traditions, and ancient medical practices. Many people in India now seek treatment through Tibetan medicine, which our Ayurvedic department also acknowledges,' he said.
Agnihotri reaffirmed India's commitment to the Tibetan cause and stated, 'Since the time of Jawaharlal Nehru, it was decided how Tibetans would be settled and supported in India. The relations between the Indian and Tibetan communities remain strong and positive.'
'Though China has taken control of Tibet through expansionist policies, the Tibetan identity is recognised and respected globally. Thousands of Tibetans have gone abroad for education and business, but even today, Shimla remains a significant centre for their community and culture,' he said.
After the celebration, Lhakpa Tsering, the Chief Representative Officer of the Central Tibetan Administration in Shimla, expressed his gratitude and joy at the occasion.
'It is a very happy moment for us. We have been waiting for this auspicious announcement by His Holiness for many years. When he turned 80, I wore this white 'chhuba' (a traditional Tibetan robe), and now again at 90, I wear it with pride. This white dress symbolizes snow, peace, and family harmony. It is customary in Tibetan culture for elders to wear this attire at 80. Now, we have the honour to celebrate his 90th,' said Tsering.
'Earlier this July, His Holiness declared from the US that he will continue the process of reincarnation. This is an auspicious and crucial message not only for Tibetans but for Buddhists and peace-loving people around the world,' Tsering further said.
'The Dalai Lama is a global symbol of peace, promoter of human values, religious harmony, cultural preservation, and ancient Indian traditions,' he added.
Tsering further shared how the Tibetan community has found a sense of belonging in India over the last 65 years.
'We have been living peacefully in a free world here in India since 1959. India was the first country to welcome His Holiness and his followers. We hope to one day celebrate the 100th or 110th birthday of His Holiness in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, with all our Indian and Himalayan brothers and sisters,' Tsering added.
He also acknowledged growing global support for the Tibetan cause.
'We are getting international support. US Senator Marco Rubio has already declared his support. Even in India, the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh is observing His Holiness's birthday celebrations. From the central government, Kiren Rijiju has extended his respect. Today, there are over 350 invited guests from across India and the world,' he said.
The cultural performances showcased during the event were jointly staged by Tibetan and Indian students and teachers, a vibrant display of shared heritage and harmony.
'When we hold festivals like the Shimla Summer Festival or other cultural events, the Tibetan community must be included. We will instruct our department to ensure their cultural presentations are part of the official programming. There is an urgent need to preserve both the cultural heritage and the Tibetan medical system,' he said.
He also mentioned the Dalai Lama's recent statement. 'Just yesterday, His Holiness said he will live for another 30 to 40 years. We pray for his long life, may he live for a thousand years. But under no circumstances should China be allowed to interfere in the spiritual and cultural legacy of Tibet,' he said. (ANI)
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Tesla CFO Vaibhav Taneja named treasurer as Elon Musk launches ‘America Party'
Tesla CFO Vaibhav Taneja named treasurer as Elon Musk launches ‘America Party'

Time of India

time21 minutes ago

  • Time of India

Tesla CFO Vaibhav Taneja named treasurer as Elon Musk launches ‘America Party'

Academy Empower your mind, elevate your skills A federal election commission (FEC) document is being widely shared on social media, revealing that Elon Musk has registered the America Party with the close examination, an Indian-origin name can be found on the document: Vaibhav Taneja, the chief financial officer (CFO) of is listed as the treasurer and custodian of records for Musk's new political party. His appointment to these key roles isn't surprising, considering his deep experience in financial roles and his involvement in Tesla's financial became Tesla's CFO in August 2023. Taneja joined the company in 2017 following its acquisition of SolarCity, where he held a senior finance position. Over the years, he climbed the ranks, starting as assistant corporate controller, then becoming corporate controller, chief accounting officer, and eventually announced on Sunday, that he is launching The America Party, to fight against Trump's 'big, beautiful' tax a post on X, he stated, 'Today, the America Party is formed to give you back your freedom.'He said, 'By a factor of 2 to 1, you want a new political party and you shall have it!'Taneja also made news recently for reportedly earning $139 million in 2024, which is far more than what other big tech executives are earning, including Microsoft's Satya Nadella and Google's Sundar Pichai.

At Rio Summit, BRICS Hits Out at Tariffs, Iran Attacks and Gaza, but Stops Short of Naming US
At Rio Summit, BRICS Hits Out at Tariffs, Iran Attacks and Gaza, but Stops Short of Naming US

The Wire

time30 minutes ago

  • The Wire

At Rio Summit, BRICS Hits Out at Tariffs, Iran Attacks and Gaza, but Stops Short of Naming US

New Delhi: As the United States prepares to notify its trade partners of revised tariff rates on their imports, the BRICS grouping of emerging economies, several of whom are engaged in trade talks with Washington, voiced 'serious concerns' over 'unilateral tariff and non-tariff measures,' but stopped short of directly naming Washington. US President Donald Trump has, meanwhile, issued a stark waring from White House. 'Any Country aligning themselves with the Anti-American policies of BRICS, will be charged an ADDITIONAL 10% Tariff. There will be no exceptions to this policy,' he posted on his social media platform, Truth Social. The leaders' joint statement, issued after the BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday, reflected the difficulty negotiators from the 11 members faced in agreeing on language that could reconcile competing national interests across a range of issues, from US trade policy and UN Security Council expansion to condemning Israel for Gaza conflict and the recent Iran-Israel escalation. India is among the five founding members of BRICS, alongside Brazil, Russia, China and South Africa. In 2024, the bloc expanded to include Indonesia, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates. Next year, India will be hosting the BRICS summit for the second time. While the heads of state of nearly half the member countries stayed away, key leaders present in Rio included Indian prime minister Narendra Modi, Indonesian president Prabowo Subianto, South African president Cyril Ramaphosa and Ethiopian prime minister Abiy Ahmed. Russian president Vladimir Putin and Chinese president Xi Jinping were both absent. This was Xi's first time skipping a BRICS summit since becoming president in 2013, while Putin's absence was linked to an International Criminal Court warrant. India and terrorism While global attention was largely fixed on how the BRICS bloc would respond to US tariff measures, India was more focused on the language in the joint statement concerning terrorism and United Nations Security Council reform. The leaders' declaration 'condemn[ed] in the strongest terms' the terror attack at Pahalgam on April 22, which India had blamed on Pakistan. The incident led to a four-day military exchange between the two countries, with India targeting what it described as terror infrastructure across the border. Although the BRICS statement did not explicitly name Pakistan, it reaffirmed the group's commitment to addressing the cross-border movement of terrorists, terror financing and safe havens. This language closely reflected the wording used in last year's Kazan declaration. Both statements called for 'zero tolerance' towards terrorism, rejected 'double standards' in its handling, reiterated support for the long-pending UN Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism proposed by India, and underlined that terrorism should not be associated with any religion, nationality or ethnic identity. In his statement during the session on peace and security, Modi said that 'condemning terrorism must be a matter of principle, and not just of convenience'. 'If our response depends on where or against whom the attack occurred, it shall be a betrayal of humanity itself,' he added. In this image released by @MEAIndia via X on July 6, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses a session on 'Peace and Security and Reform of Global Governance' during the 17th annual BRICS Summit, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Photo: Via PTI. India and UNSC The other issue highlighted by India is the UN Security Council reform. While BRICS declarations have routinely supported 'comprehensive reform' of the United Nations, this year's statement added that such reform should result in 'the amplified voice of the Global South'. It referred back to earlier declarations from the summits in Beijing and Johannesburg, which recorded the support of China and Russia – both permanent members of the Security Council, for the "aspirations of Brazil and India to play a greater role in the United Nations, including its Security Council." However, the declaration again stopped short of endorsing their candidacy for permanent seats. Negotiations over this paragraph were reportedly among the most difficult in the run-up to the BRICS summit, largely due to the group's recent expansion. Until 2023, South Africa had consistently been listed alongside Brazil and India as an aspirant for 'greater role' in UN. But with Egypt and Ethiopia now part of BRICS, African representation on the issue has become more complicated. Both Egypt and Ethiopia pushed for a formulation that acknowledged that the African Union had yet to decide on the continent's candidates for permanent seats, consistent with the Ezulwini Consensus and Sirte Declaration. Trump The Rio summit also unfolded under the shadow of the United States' planned reimposition of tariffs, set to kick in from July 9. President Donald Trump had earlier warned of 100% duties on imports from BRICS countries if they pushed forward with alternatives to the dollar in global trade. In April, he announced new 'reciprocal' tariffs calibrated by country, including 26 percent for India, 30 percent for South Africa and 84 percent for China. These were put on hold for 90 days, during which several countries, including India, have accelerated trade talks to limit the impact. The BRICS countries voiced "serious concerns about the rise of unilateral tariff and non-tariff measures," warning that such actions are illegal and arbitrary. The joint statement described the 'indiscriminate rising of tariffs and non-tariff measures' as part of a wider trend of trade-restrictive practices that risk reducing global trade, disrupting supply chains, and creating uncertainty in the global economy. Despite the strong language, the declaration did not explicitly blame the United States. Analysts believe this omission reflected the host country Brazil's reluctance to provoke Washington. ' Brazil wants the least amount of damage possible and to avoid drawing the attention of the Trump administration to prevent any type of risk to the Brazilian economy,' Ana Garcia, a professor at the Rio de Janeiro Federal Rural University, told Associated Press. However, this cautious approach did not appear to placate Trump. In a social media post issued shortly after the summit, he threatened to impose fresh 10% tariffs on BRICS members. It is uncertain which 'anti-American' policies he was targeting. Earlier in the year, his warnings were triggered by reports of a proposed BRICS currency – an initiative that now appears sidelined, as there was no reference to it in the final text. 'Genocide' and other wars The BRICS joint statement also avoided identifying either Iran or the United States when it referred to recent attacks on Iranian 'civilian infrastructure and peaceful nuclear facilities' as a 'violation of international law and relevant resolutions of the IAEA'. Nevertheless, this marked a slight shift in tone from the bloc's earlier statement issued on June 25, which had only expressed 'grave concern over the military strikes' against Iran. In contrast, the Rio de Janeiro declaration used the term 'condemn'. On the war in Ukraine, the declaration once again avoided any direct criticism of Russia. Instead, it backed diplomatic initiatives led by Brazil and China, and a group of African nations. The statement also referred to attacks on Russian regions such as Bryansk and Kursk, but did so without assigning blame or identifying the perpetrators. The most direct criticism in the statement was aimed at Israel. The leaders expressed 'grave concern' over the military operations in Gaza and 'denounced the Israeli attacks against humanitarian operations, facilities, personnel and distribution points.' Although the host Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva had referred to the situation in Gaza as ' genocide ' in his remarks during the summit, that term did not appear in the final declaration. The BRICS joint statement echoed the language of a recent United Nations General Assembly resolution by condemning 'all violations of international humanitarian law, including the use of starvation as a method of warfare.' India had unexpectedly abstained on that resolution, which had led the opposition to accuse the government of losing moral compass. In addition, the bloc called on all parties to engage 'in good faith' to secure an 'immediate, comprehensive and permanent ceasefire in Gaza,' ensure the release of all hostages, withdraw Israeli forces fully, and allow unhindered access of humanitarian aid. The declaration also reaffirmed support for full UN membership for Palestine and reiterated BRICS' 'unwavering commitment to the two-state solution.' However, Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi later stated on his official Telegram channel that Tehran had registered reservations about the reference to the two-state solution, as Iran does not recognise Israel. The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.

LIVE news: Trump warns extra 10% tariffs against countries 'aligning' with Brics
LIVE news: Trump warns extra 10% tariffs against countries 'aligning' with Brics

Business Standard

time34 minutes ago

  • Business Standard

LIVE news: Trump warns extra 10% tariffs against countries 'aligning' with Brics

US President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that nations supporting what he described as Brics' 'anti-American policies' will face an added 10% tariff. 'Any Country aligning themselves with the anti-American policies of BRICS will be charged an ADDITIONAL 10% Tariff. There will be no exceptions to this policy. Thank you for your attention to this matter!' Trump stated in a Truth Social post. He did not elaborate on what he meant by 'anti-American policies". The Brics group strongly denounced the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam and echoed India's stance advocating a "zero tolerance" approach to terrorism. Brics leaders underscored their determination to combat terrorism in all its forms, including cross-border terrorism and terror financing, during the opening day of their two-day summit in the coastal city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In what appeared to be a veiled criticism of US trade actions, the leaders also denounced the "indiscriminate" use of tariffs, warning that such practices threaten global trade. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing the Brics Summit in Rio de Janeiro, highlighted the Pahalgam attack, calling terrorism one of humanity's gravest threats. "Terrorism is among the most serious challenges facing humanity. Recently, India faced an inhuman and cowardly terrorist attack in Pahalgam. This was an attack on all of humanity," said Modi. Speaking during the summit's session on 'Peace and Security and Reform of Global Governance,' he reaffirmed India's dedication to peace and unity, and called for decisive global cooperation in fighting terrorism.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store