Gaya: Special prayers and religious ceremonies at the World Heritage Mahabodhi Mahavihara, along with a traditional procession in Bodh Gaya, marked the 91st birthday celebrations of Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader, the 14th Dalai Lama, on Monday.In a message issued from the Shewatsel Teaching Ground in Leh, Ladakh, the Dalai Lama said, “I believe that along with material development, we must preserve compassion. Let us make the world a better place.” The celebrations in Leh were organised by the Ladakh Buddhist Association, the Ladakh Gonpa Association and the Central Tibetan Administration.Thousands of monks participated in the traditional procession in Bodh Gaya, which began at the Namgyal Tibetan Buddhist Monastery and concluded at the Mahabodhi Mahavihara. Monks carried a portrait of the Dalai Lama while playing traditional Tibetan musical instruments.The monks offered special prayers and recited Buddhist scriptures in the sanctum sanctorum for the Dalai Lama’s long life, good health and the well-being of humanity. In the evening, 108 candles were lit at the Butter Lamp House on the Mahavihara premises. BTMC member secretary Mahashweta Maharathi, members Dhamma Dhiro, T Okonogi and others offered prayers for the Dalai Lama’s long life and world peace.Addressing a function at Bodh Gaya, International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) president Acharya N T Gyatso said the occasion was not merely a birthday celebration but a day to reaffirm the values of love, religious harmony and respect for the environment.Gyatso said, “The Dalai Lama has carried the teachings of Buddhism to every corner of the world and continues to inspire efforts to promote harmony, mutual respect and human well-being across different religious traditions.”Devotees offered prayers for the Dalai Lama’s long life, good health and continued guidance for future generations, and cut a 25-pound cake to mark the occasion.Other monasteries and tourism stakeholders, including the Association of Buddhist Tour Operators (ABTO), also celebrated the Dalai Lama’s birthday.
