Tsering Dhundup
DHARAMSHALA, Feb. 18: The Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama safely arrived in Delhi on Tuesday following the conclusion of his extensive visit spanning over a month to Tibetan settlements in Bylakuppe and Hunsur in South India’s Karnataka state.
The revered leader departed from his residence in Dharamshala on January 3 and reached Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, the seat of Panchen Lama in exile in Bylakuppe on January 5, making it his first visit to the settlement in seven years. His Holiness stayed at the monastery for approximately one and a half months before travelling to Gyumed Tantric College in Hunsur Rabgayling for a two-day visit on February 16.
During his stay at Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, His Holiness presided over numerous spiritual gatherings. On January 9, he led a solemn prayer service in the monastery’s courtyard to honour the victims of the earthquake in Dingri and other affected areas of Tibet’s Shigatse region. Later, on January 18, he attended the winter debate session of the Gelug Jamchoe and Rigtsog, where monks from various prominent monasteries—Sera, Drepung, Ganden, Tashi Lhunpo, and Ratoe—showcased their debating skills before an audience of 3,000 people.
On February 5, a long-life prayer ceremony was offered to His Holiness by Sera Jey and Sera Mey colleges at Sera Monastery, attended by 8,000 devotees. Similarly, on February 12, Tashi Lhunpo Monastery held a long-life prayer ceremony in its main assembly hall, attracting another 8,000 people. The following day, His Holiness bestowed the White Tara long-life empowerment to 26,000 members of the public at Tashi Lhunpo.
On February 16, the Nobel peace leauraute left from Bylakuppe to Gyumed Tantric College in Hunsur Rabgayling Tibetan Settlement, his first visit to the settlement in about a decade. The following day, Gyumed Tantric College honoured him with a long-life prayer ceremony in their main assembly hall, which was attended by 6,000 people. During this ceremony, the college presented His Holiness with a prestigious award recognising him as the master of the teaching and practice lineage of the Lower Tantric College.
Throughout his visit, His Holiness maintained a busy schedule, including conducting Gelong Ordination ceremonies for 303 monks from various monasteries such as Sera Jey, Sera Mey, Drepung Loseling, Drepung Gomang, Gaden Shartse, Gaden Jangtse, Tashi Lhunpo, Ratoe, Zongkar Choedhe, and Gandan Tegchenling, Mongolia.
Additionally, over the course of his one-and-a-half-month stay, His Holiness granted public audiences to 8,021 individuals, including Tibetans from four south Indian Tibetan settlements—Bylakuppe, Mundgod, Hunsur, and Kollegal alongside Indian devotees, foreigners, and people from the Himalayan region. Among the audience were five centenarians, 993 senior citizens over 80, 606 individuals over 70, and 1,322 people over 60. Furthermore, 314 individuals with illnesses or special needs, along with their 609 caretakers, received blessings from the Tibetan spiritual leader.
