His Holiness was presented the National Emblem by Former Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh at the ‘Celebrating His Holiness’ event in New Delhi
Photo: Tenzin Choejor/OHHDL
His Holiness the Dalai Lama was honoured with an event “Celebrating His Holiness”, India’s celebration of His Holiness’s 80th birthday which fell in July last year. The event was held at the Oberoi Hotel in New Delhi on January 4, the earliest that it could be organised due to His Holiness’s very demanding schedule.
During his birthday celebration, His Holiness greeted the audience saying, “Some of you are among my oldest friends. I have spent the major portion of my life in India. Under difficult circumstances I have really come to value India’s freedom and I appreciate your warm feelings towards me.”
His Holiness emphasised the importance of dialogue as a means to resolve conflict. He additionally denounced religious violence, stating, “killing in the name of religion and in national interest is unthinkable…we should solve conflicts through talks and respect other peoples’ interests.” His Holiness said that India is an example of a country in which religious harmony exists between many different faiths. “India should take a more active role to show that different religions can survive together,” he said.
The event drew people from many Indian spheres, including politicians, scholars, diplomats and leading lawyers as well as Nobel Peace Prize winner Kailash Satyarthi and actor Sharmila Tagore.
Dr Manmohan Singh, the former Prime Minister of India, spoke about His Holiness during the celebration, saying, “My encounters with him have always left me more at peace with my life […] Ours is a land of rishis and he is one of them, helping guide the country on a righteous path. In these turbulent times, he teaches us to combine our spiritual values with our use of science and technology for material development. I can only pray that he lives long so the people of India, of Asia and the world may benefit from his blessings.” Dr Singh later went on to present His Holiness with the National Emblem, with its four lions signifying power, courage, pride, and confidence.
The classical Sarod virtuoso Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, with his two sons, also graced this celebration and dedicated a musical performance to the Dalai Lama.
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