The 14th Dalai Lama arrived in Ladakh on Saturday for a month-long stay, marking his first visit to the region in two years and sparking widespread joy and anticipation among his followers in the cold desert region.
During his stay, the Tibetan spiritual leader will reside at Shiwa Tsel Phodrang in Leh, where a series of public teachings and private meetings are expected to take place.
The revered leader was welcomed with ceremonial honours and warm greetings from representatives of various religious and cultural organisations. The Ladakh administration made elaborate preparations to ensure a smooth visit.
This is his first visit to Ladakh since 2023. His scheduled trip in July 2024 was postponed due to a knee surgery in the United States.
The Dalai Lama arrived aboard an Indian Air Force aircraft and has been accorded Z+ security.
On June 6, the Dalai Lama celebrated his 90th birthday, calling for “achieving peace of mind through cultivating a good heart and by being compassionate.”
Many in Ladakh regard the Dalai Lama as their spiritual leader, and his presence has uplifted the mood in the region, which has traditionally held deep ties to Tibetan Buddhism.
His visit also comes amid renewed international attention on the issue of his succession. Recently, the Office of His Holiness clarified that “No one else has any such authority to interfere in this matter,” in what is seen as a veiled response to China, which claims the right to choose the next Dalai Lama.
The statement underscores growing concerns over Beijing’s attempt to influence the selection of the Tibetan spiritual leader’s successor — a claim firmly rejected by the Tibetan leadership.
The Dalai Lama’s ties with India go back to the late 1950s, when he fled Tibet following a failed uprising against Chinese rule. After crossing into India in 1959, he established his official residence and government-in-exile in Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh.
(With input from IANS)
