- Title: TAIWAN: Buddhists mark Dalai Lama's 75th birthday
- Date: 7th July 2010
- Summary: TAIPEI, TAIWAN (JULY 6, 2010) (REUTERS) DANCER SITTING ON STAGE BUDDHIST SCRIPTURE ON DISPLAY ON STAGE DANCER DANCER WALKING FORWARD DANCERS ON STAGE DANCERS DANCING PEOPLE WATCHING AUDIENCE WATCHING PERFORMANCE DANCERS ON STAGE DANCERS DANCING ON STAGE PERFORMANCE HALL DALAI LAMA'S PHOTOGRAPH
- Embargoed: 22nd July 2010 13:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: Religion
- Reuters ID: LVA74HSS6FRSOAS5HP6IZHWTFAV
- Story Text: Around 400 people gathered in Taipei on Tuesday (July 6) evening to mark the 75th birthday of the Tibetan exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama.
For the second year in a row, supporters passed the Dalai Lama's birthday with performances and singing. The gathering had been organised by a local Buddhist group, while across the Taiwan strait, mainland China saw little to celebrate.
China accuses the Dalai Lama of seeking independence for Tibet. The Dalai Lama, who fled Tibet in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule, denies the charges, saying he only wants greater autonomy for Tibet.
Many on the self-ruled island of Taiwan still support him.
"When it started my heart was very happy, I think everybody must be feeling the same way, everybody can celebrate this event together and certainly reap many blessings here," said participant Wu Jen-kuei.
But many of his followers fear that the death of the ageing Dalai Lama could create a leadership vacuum that Beijing could exploit to tighten its grip over the Himalayan region. Concerns over the 1989 Nobel peace laureate's frail health have been worrying many of his followers for the past few years.
First time participant Ch'en Nai-hua said she hoped she would be able to mark more of the Dalai Lama's birthdays.
"It is the first time I have been to one of these, the host just asked how many people were here for the first time, there were not many people that put their hands up. I hope that next year I will have as many blessings and will be able to come back again to take part in the Dalai Lama's birthdays. I hope that he will be healthy and safe," she said.
As monks chanted prayers and children queued to have their photograph taken beside an image of the Dalai Lama, the participants were also shown a letter written to them by the Dalai Lama, thanking them for their attendance. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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