Dalai Lama's 80th birthday greeting video launched

The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) on Wednesday released a special video greeting to mark Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama's upcoming 80th birthday.

It comprised a special tribute from his "long-time spiritual brother" and South African leader Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who devoted his life to anti-apartheid struggle.

The video was released here by Lobsang Sangay, the democratically elected leader of the Tibetan people.

Featuring a tribute and greeting from his fellow Nobel laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the video seeks to highlight the globetrotting Dalai Lama's commitment to contribute to human happiness, to foster religious harmony worldwide and to safeguard Tibet's culture and environment.

Tutu reached this north Indian hill station on April 18 on a week's visit to meet the Dalai Lama and to hold the first of several conversations that Doug Abrams plans to shape into 'The Book of Joy'.

"I am so thrilled to be with my dear friend, often things and people try to keep us apart but the love that we have for each other and the goodness of God's universe ensures that we do meet," Tutu said on reaching here.

According to a Tibetan tradition, a person's 80th anniversary bears special significance and is celebrated as a momentous life milestone.

It's hoped the Dalai Lama's supporters worldwide will share the video as a tribute to his efforts to promote peace. This year's anniversary will be celebrated by millions throughout the world, including Tibetans inside Tibet, despite Chinese authorities' restrictions, a CTA statement said.

The Dalai Lama, in his effort to democratise the Tibetan administration, devolved his political authority to the elected political leader in 2011.

With the Dalai Lama stepping down from diplomacy and active politics, the elected leader of Tibetan people, earlier known as the prime minister-in-exile, has acquired an added stature.

The Dalai Lama has lived in India since fleeing his homeland in 1959. The Tibetan exile administration is based in this northern hill town of Dharamsala.