- Title: INDIA: DALAI LAMA ARRIVES TO ATTEND KUMBH MELA FESTIVAL
- Date: 26th January 2001
- Summary: ALLAHABAD, INDIA (JANUARY 25, 2001) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. GV/MV: TIBETAN SPIRITUAL LEADER DALAI LAMA ARRIVES AT THE MAHA KUMBH MELA OR THE GRAND PITCHER FAIR/ CHILDREN OFFERING PRAYERS TO THE DALAI LAMA/ DALAI LAMA GREETED BY PEOPLE (2 SHOTS) 0.27 2. MCU: (SOUNDBITE) (English) BUDDHIST SPIRITUAL LEADER DALAI LAMA, SAYING: "In the mid 60's also I visited this place, it is a good impression....(unintelligible) that the living very strong spirit. So I am looking to see more of leaders as well as the public here. Actually we Buddhists consider Buddhism and Hinduism as twin brothers and sisters. So I am very happy to come here." 1.08 3. MV: SECURITY PERSONNEL STANDING 1.12 4. MCU: (SOUNDBITE) (English) DALAI LAMA, SAYING: "I always believe that it is safer and better and reasonable to follow to keep one's own tradition because the change in tradition or belief is not proper. And themselves also individually, also that change in religion then we will eventually face more problems. So it is much safer to follow one's own religion." 1.36 5. MV/PAN: JAGADGURU SHANKRACHARYA, ONE OF HINDU'S FOUR MAIN LEADERS, COMING TO MEET THE DALAI LAMA 1.48 6. GV: A HOLY MAN COMING TO MEET THE DALAI LAMA 1.59 7. MCU: (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) ASHOK SINGHAL, PRESIDENT OF VISHWA HINDU PARISHAD OR WORLD HINDU COUNCIL, SAYING: "As we all know that from here (India) only Buddhism spread all over the world. And today every Buddhist country agree that birthplace of Buddhism in India and in this regard they have extreme respect for the Indians. So in a way Hinduism and Buddhism are unicultural and that's what the Dalai Lama himself has said that we are unicultural." 2.22 8. MV: THE DALAI LAMA WITH JAGADGURU SHANKRACHARYA, AND ASHOK SINGHAL, WALKING TOWARDS THE RIVER BANK 2.27 9. MV/PAN/CU: FOREIGN PILGRIMS WAITING AT THE BANKS/ SAFFRON FLAGS IN THE RIVER (2 SHOTS) 2.40 10. LV: THE DALAI LAMA WALKING TOWARDS THE BANK 2.50 11. CU: SAFFRON FLAG WRITTEN "OM" 2.53 12. MV/ZOOM OUT: CLOSE UP OF THE DALAI LAMA STANDING 3.09 13. MCU: PRAYERS BEING HELD AT THE RIVER BANK 3.14 14. MV/GV: DALAI LAMA AND SHANKRACHARYA SITTING (2 shots) 3.21 15. MCU/GV/TILT: DALAI LAMA PERFORMING AARTI (PRAYERS)/ WATER/ DALAI LAMA OFFERING PRAYERS (3 SHOTS) 3.40 16. CU: SINGHAL PERFORMING AARTI 3.44 17. SCU: PILGRIMS WATCHING 3.48 18. GV/LV: PEOPLE AT THE BANKS DURING SUNSET (2 SHOTS) 3.56 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 10th February 2001 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: ALLAHABAD, INDIA
- Country: India
- Reuters ID: LVA68J0SEKKZZGI6YM6PRVQE7H18
- Story Text: Tibet's spiritual leader the Dalai Lama is in Allahabad
to celebrate Hinduism's biggest festival, the Kumbh Mela.
Tibet's spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, arrived on
Thursday (January 25) in this northern Indian town to join
Hinduism's biggest festival.
He told reporters he was on a mission to promote harmony
between faiths.
The Dalai Lama joins millions who have been celebrating
the Maha Kumbh Mela, or Grand Pitcher Festival.
The Tibetan leader is scheduled to make a public speech
on "World peace and human values" on Friday.
"I have come here to have a spiritual feel of this place
which I earlier visited in the mid-'60s," the Dalai Lama told
reporters.
"So I am looking to see more of leaders as well as the
public here. Actually we Buddhists consider Buddhism and
Hinduism as twin brothers and sisters. So I am very happy to
come here," he added.
The Dalai Lama was greeted by Jagadguru Shankaracharya,
one of the Hindu religion's four main leaders.
The Dalai Lama, who is based in the north Indian town of
Dharamshala, fled his homeland with thousands of followers
after an abortive uprising against Chinese rule in 1959.
Asked about religious conversions, the Dalai Lama said
he did not believe in people of any religion converting.
"I always believe that it is safer and better and
reasonable to follow to keep one's own tradition because the
change in tradition or belief is not proper. And themselves
also individually also that change in religion then we will
eventually face more problems. So it is much safer to follow
one's own religion," the Dalai Lama said.
The Nobel peace prize winner of 1989 came to the
festival at the invitation of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, or
World Hindu Council, which is controversial for its militant
postures on issues concerning relations with other religions.
"As we all know that from here (India) only Buddhism
spread all over the world. And today every Buddhist country
agree that birthplace of Buddhism in India and in this regard
they have extreme respect for the Indians. So in a way
Hinduism and Buddhism are unicultural and that's what his
Holiness the Dalai Lama himself has said that Hinduism and
Buddhism are unicultural," VHP's president Ashok Singhal said.
The VHP has been campaigning against religious
conversions, and criticises Islamic leaders for allegedly
undermining Indian cultural values and Christian missionaries
for using economic incentives to convert Hindus.
The Dalai Lama said it was too cold for him to join in
the ritual bathing in the Ganges, but he offered up prayers at
the confluence of the Ganges, the Yamuna river and the
mythical Saraswati river, joining a Hindu congregation. Hindus
believe a dip in the Ganges during the festival absolves sin,
ends the cycle of reincarnation and speeds the way to nirvana.
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