Dalai Lama flags off Arunachal mountaineer

Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama on Tuesday flagged off Arunachal Pradesh mountaineer Anshu Jamsenpa on her Mount Everest expedition.

Jamsenpa had a special audience with the Dalai Lama at the Radisson Blue hotel here on Tuesday. The spiritual leader blessed her before the flag off.

Jamsenpa, an experienced mountaineer, has already scaled the Mount Everest thrice, twice within a gap of 10 days.

"Your achievement is the testimony of your hard work, firm determination and a strong belief in yourself," the Dalai Lama said.

He also blessed her two teenage daughters Passang Droma and Tenzing Nyiddon with a personalized message which he wrote and signed himself.

"Meeting His Holiness The Living Buddha and getting his blessings in person is one of the most treasured and blessed day of my life. I shall cherish it life-long, especially the close warm hug," the mountaineer said.

"It will always motivate me and infuse strength to overcome all my struggles in life," she added.

The mountaineer from Arunachal Pradesh is in quest to better her own national and international records.

The Dalai Lama has addressed seminars and delivered talks at different functions. He is scheduled to visit Tawang and some other places in Arunachal Pradesh.

Although he was to visit Arunachal Pradesh by helicopter, he is likely to move to Bomdila on Tuesday by road due to inclement weather.

From Bomdila he would visit Dirang, Lumla and Tawang during his over seven-day trip to Arunachal Pradesh.

China has reacted strongly to the Dalai Lama's visit to Arunachal Pradesh which Beijing considers part of Tibet.

--IANS

ah/in/mr