Dalai Lama Celebrates 90th Birthday Amid Exile

Thousands of Tibetan Buddhists gathered in Dharamshala, India, to celebrate the 90th birthday of the Dalai Lama, despite heavy monsoon rains. The Dalai Lama appeared in traditional robes, smiling and walking with the aid of two monks, and was honored by Indian ministers, followers, and Hollywood actor Richard Gere. The Dalai Lama said he had no regrets looking back on his life and emphasized the importance of cultivating peace of mind and compassion. He also confirmed plans for a successor, sparking concerns that China may attempt to name a successor to tighten control over Tibet. The event was marked with traditional dances, chants, and ceremonies, and the Dalai Lama received birthday wishes from world leaders, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former US President Barack Obama.

Thousands gathered in Dharamshala, India, to celebrate the 90th birthday of the Dalai Lama, Tibet's spiritual leader and Nobel Peace laureate. Despite heavy rain and fog, crowds dressed in traditional attire packed the streets and queued to catch a glimpse of the Dalai Lama at the Tsuklakhang Tibetan Buddhist complex. The event featured masked dancers, singing performances, and speeches from Indian government ministers and Hollywood actor Richard Gere. In a birthday message, the Dalai Lama emphasized the importance of cultivating compassion and promoting human values. The celebration comes at a significant time as the Dalai Lama has announced that he will have a successor after his death and affirmed that his office has the "sole authority" to recognize his future reincarnation, setting the stage for a potential struggle with China's Communist Party, which insists it alone holds the authority to approve the next Dalai Lama.

The Dalai Lama celebrated his 90th birthday with thousands of worshippers, including Hollywood actor Richard Gere, gathering in Dharamshala, India, where he lives in exile. The celebrations began on Monday, marking his 90th birthday in the Tibetan calendar, and continued until Sunday, his birthday in the Gregorian calendar. The Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists, has been worshipped by millions as the living manifestation of the Buddhist god of compassion. During the celebrations, he expressed his hope to live for decades more, until the age of 130, and explicitly stated that he will have a successor after his death, sparking a controversy with China, which has labelled him a separatist and seeks to control Tibetan Buddhism.

The Dalai Lama turned 90 on Sunday, surrounded by thousands of followers in Dharamshala, India, where he has lived in exile since fleeing Chinese rule in Tibet in 1959. He stated that he has not wasted his life and lives in service to others. The celebration capped a week of birthday events, during which he announced plans to reincarnate after his death, and said the next Dalai Lama should be recognized according to past Buddhist traditions. World leaders and celebrities, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and actor Richard Gere, sent their wishes to the Tibetan leader, who has become a global symbol of Tibetan culture and resistance.

The Dalai Lama has built a democratic system in exile for Tibetans after fleeing Chinese persecution in the 1950s, devolving his power to an elected Parliament and retiring his political role in 2011. The exile government, based in Dharamsala, India, has a president elected through a direct vote and oversees various institutions, including schools and clinics. The democratic system is designed to withstand Beijing's efforts to crush the Tibetan movement and is considered the Dalai Lama's most vivid legacy. However, the government's vulnerability was exposed when the US froze aid, and India's stance on Tibet remains delicate to avoid trouble with China. Tibetan refugees are anxious about the transition after the Dalai Lama's eventual passing, and the government is preparing for the post-Dalai Lama scenario. The Parliament, comprising 45 members from various countries, meets twice a year to approve budgets and hear performance reports, and has come a long way since its first sessions under a tree.