Dalai Lama's 83rd birthday celebrated in Dharamshala

Spiritual leader the Dalai Lama's 83rd birthday was celebrated today at the main Tibetan Temple in Mcleodganj in the hill town of Dharamshala.

The traditional celebration was attended by Dharamshala MLA and Himachal Pradesh Minister of Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Kishan Kapoor.

Rajya Sabha MP Gopal Narayan Singh and Lok Sabha MP Janardhan Singh Sigriwal attended the event as special guests.

"Since Dalai Lama chose Dharamshala as his residence after he was force to leave Tibet by China in 1959, Himachal Pradesh has progressed with his blessings. Therefore, the entire Himachal Pradesh considers him as part of our family," Kapoor said.

He praised the Dalai Lama for his commitment to peace, particularly his five-point peace plan to resolve the Tibet issue.

"The five point peace plan was a blue print to resolve the Tibet issue peacefully. It was rejected by the Chinese government. However, it was applauded by the international community as well as overseas Chinese residing in different parts of the world," he said.

He described the Tibetan spiritual leader as a visionary.