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In the sun-soaked courtyards and cobblestone paths of Buddhist Tibet's Tashilhunpo monastery, an ageing monk sings the praises of 13-year-old Gyaltsen Norbu.

The Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, is visitng Washington. He was received Monday by the Capital Area Tibetan community and other Tibetan supporters. The Dalai Lama he will be in the capitial for three days.

It had been almost two decades since Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA) last toured Ladakh - once Tibetan satellite State, now Indian territory.

A Chinese woman visits the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet, which is 3.6 km (2.2 miles) above sea level, on August 26, 2003. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the start of th invasion by British troops, led by adventurer Francis Younghusband, who reached Lhasa in 1904. (REUTERS/Guang Niu)

Trade agreements snubbed. Letters to the Dalai Lama returned with unbroken seals. Mounting fears the Russians were gaining ground in Tibet. By mid-1903, Britain's Viceroy of India had had enough.

All India Tibet Support Groups concluded with great success. The Inauguration was held under a specially constructed canopy marked as "Lhasa Nagar" and the meeting Hall was named as PadmaSambhava Hall where 227 participants from 15 states

The Dalai Lama arrives at his hotel in Washington, Monday, Sept. 8, 2003 on the start of his three-day visit. On Tuesday, he will give the keynote address at Congressional Human Rights Caucus 20th Anniversary Celebration on Capitol Hill. (AP Photo/Terry Ashe)

Tibetan religious leader, the Dalai Lama, who is currently in Washington to attend the events commemorating the September 11 terror attacks, is expected to meet top US officials, including Secretary of State Colin Powell.

The Dalai Lama, exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, speaks in Statuary Hall at the Capitol Building on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus in Washington Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2003. The Dalai Lama is in Washington for a three-day visit. (Photo by Charles Dharapak)

The Dalai Lama urged Congress to continue supporting the cause of a free Tibet, thanking House members in a Capitol Hill ceremony Tuesday for their push to improve China's treatment of Tibetans.