Prayers offered to mark Dalai Lama’s 88th b’day

GAYA: A special prayer was organised at the Mahabodhi Mahavihara in Bodh Gaya on Thursday morning for the long life of Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, on his 88th birthday. The prayer was followed by chanting of ‘sutta’ from Buddhist scriptures and meditation under the sacred Bodhi tree on the Mahavihara campus.

A procession was taken out from the Tibetan monastery to the Mahavihara in the morning. Followers of Dalai Lama from different countries, including Tibet, Bhutan, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, Taiwan, Burma, Bangladesh, Laos, Mongolia, Cambodia, Korea, China and Nepal participated in it.

International Buddhist Council (IBC), Bodh Gaya, also celebrated his birthday at the Tibet monastery by cutting a cake of 50 pounds and lighting candles. Tibetan monastery monk in-charge Amji Lama said, “A special prayer was performed for the long life of Dalai Lama and for the welfare of the humanity. Dalai Lama has expressed his wish to live for at least 25-30 more years and work for establishing peace across the globe. So far, his birthday was celebrated at the Tibetan monastery. But this year, the IBC is also celebrating the auspicious day.”