The Central Tibetan Administration based in Dharamsala, northern India launched a video birthday greeting today for the Dalai Lama, who will be turning 80 on July 6, 2015.
Lobsang Sangay, head of the Tibetan administration in exile, launched the videos during a press conference held at the Lhakpa Tsering Hall of Upper TCV School in Dharamsala.
The video has been translated into three languages, with the English and Chinese version featuring a tribute and greeting from Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who is a close friend of the Dalai Lama. The video seeks to highlight the Dalai Lama’s commitment to contribute towards human happiness, to foster religious harmony worldwide, and to safeguard Tibet’s culture and environment.
According to Tibetan tradition, a person’s 80th anniversary bears special significance and is celebrated as a momentous life milestone.
June 21st corresponds to the Dalai Lama’s birthday based on the Tibetan calendar (5th day of the 5th lunar month) where a special long-life prayer will be offered in Dharamsala, and will be celebrated by Tibetans and supporters throughout the world including Tibetans inside Tibet despite heightened security and restriction by the Chinese authorities.