Exiled Tibetans offer long life prayers for Dalai Lama

Tibetans living in exile in Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh, have offered long life prayers for their spiritual head-- the Dalai Lama.

Tibetans from five different associations organized the event at the Buddhist Temple known in Tibetan language as the Tsuglagkhang.

The organizers included the Belgium Tibetan Association, the Chidrel Tsogpa, the Dhasa Tsongpa Community, the Lhasa Community and the Lhoka Community. Thousands of Tibetans, including monks and nuns, gathered at the Tsuglagkhang. They Tibetan Prime Minister-in-exile Lobsang Sangay, his predecessor Samdhong Rinpoche, the speaker of the Tibetan parliament in-exile, Penpa Tsering, Tibetan MPs and ministers in-exile. Foreigners also attended the prayer meeting. Pempa Tsering said,"Today is the 14th day of the first lunar month and there is a long life prayer offering by five different associations." This is the second long life prayer being offered to the Dalai Lama, wh has reached the age of eighty.

"The 80th birthday is considered a very important occasion for Tibetans," Tsering.