NEPAL: Hundreds of exiled Tibetans mark the Dalai Lama's 78th birthday, amid tight security, with a Buddhist ceremony and traditional Tibetan dance

Record ID: 861086

  • Title: NEPAL: Hundreds of exiled Tibetans mark the Dalai Lama's 78th birthday, amid tight security, with a Buddhist ceremony and traditional Tibetan dance
  • Date: 6th July 2013
  • Summary: KATHMANDU, NEPAL (JULY 6, 2013) (REUTERS) TIBETANS IN EXILE BEING CHECKED BY SECURITY BEFORE WALKING THROUGH MANANG GOMBA GATE MANANG GOMBA TEMPLE SECURITY GUARD CHECKING A MONK'S BAG CHILDREN WALKING PAST SECURITY MORE OF SECURITY PERSONNEL CHECKING BAGS VARIOUS OF MONKS SITTING ELDERLY TIBETANS SITTING UNDER UMBRELLAS ELDERLY TIBETANS BURNING INCENSE TIBET SPIRITUAL LEADER, DALAI LAMA'S PORTRAIT BEING CARRIED PEOPLE PRAYING IN FRONT OF PORTRAIT OF DALAI LAMA PORTRAIT OF DALAI LAMA
  • Embargoed: 21st July 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Nepal
  • City:
  • Country: Nepal
  • Topics: General,Politics,Religion,Religion
  • Reuters ID: LVA62W09LK3IXFN4S8GJBRYK1NYZ
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: Exiled Tibetans celebrated the Dalai Lama's 78th birthday on Saturday (July 6) with a Buddhist ceremony and traditional dances amid tight security.
    The celebrants sang Tibetan songs and performed traditional dances as they gathered at the Manang Gomba temple near the Swayambhunath temple.
    One monk explained that any Tibetan who practices Buddhism would celebrate the Dalai Lama's birthday.
    There was an increase in security in Nepal, due to a request from the Chinese government to contain any anti-China protests, local radio reported.
    On Friday (July 5), security was seen outside the Boudnath temple in Kathmandu and the small Shamchheling monastery, where many Tibetan ceremonies take place, saw a marked reduction of people visiting it, one day ahead of the Dalai Lama's birthday.
    Nepal is home to around 20,000 Tibetans who have fled Chinese rule in their remote region. In recent years, the Nepali government has crushed protests by Tibetans against China, the country's top donor and key trade partner.
    Beijing considers the Dalai Lama, who fled China in 1959 after an abortive uprising against Chinese rule, a violent separatist. The Dalai Lama is based in India and says he is merely seeking greater autonomy for his Himalayan homeland.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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