Dharamshala: - A huge crowd of Tibetans gathered at the main temple in McLeod Ganj town of Dharamshala Sunday morning to take part in a long-life prayer ceremony for His Holiness the Dalai Lama, organised by Tibetans from Kham Tsawa region of eastern-Tibet.
The annual prayer ceremony coincided with the Great Prayer Festival, one the greatest religious festivals held with the advent of Tibetan New Year.
Top officials of the Central Tibetan Administration, including Tibetan Justice Commissioners, Speaker and members of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile and Sikyong and members of the Kashag or cabinet participated in the ceremony.
Addressing the special gathering, His Holiness said "Tibetans from Tsawa region have gathered here to offer me long life prayers. Those physically not here, Tibetans inside Tibet remain united with unwavering spirit, and faith and hope on us in exile."
"The objective of the long-life ceremony will come true only the collective merit on the part of both teacher and the students. The best way to earn merits is through develop and practise compassion and love for other beings," His Holiness added.
His Holiness also gave a short teaching from the "Jataka Tales" (Life Stories of the Buddha) as part of the Great Prayer Festival.
