Brussels, 10 July 2023: Belgium based Tibetan Association of Chushi Gangdruk celebrated the 88th birthday of His Holiness the Dalai Lama at Antwerpen, where majority of the Tibetans are based.
The programme started with Geshe Tseten Phuntsok reciting a short prayer and offering of scarf to the portrait of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Belgium Dhokham Chushi Gangdruk’s president Penpa Dorjee welcomed the guests gathered to celebrate the joyous occasion and called on everyone to heed to the advice of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Thinley Wangdue, Secretary of the Office of Tibet, Brussels, attended the celebration as the chief guest. In his address to the gathering, he reminded the gathering to follow the teachings of His Holiness in action as well. “Tibetans inside Tibet never have the opportunity to celebrate His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s birthday openly; keeping a photo of His Holiness would face severe punishment and imprisonment,” he said. And he urged the fellow Tibetans to use the occasion to rededicate oneself to the advice and vision of His Holiness.
Secretary Thinley also urged the public to participate actively in the soon to be conducted CONIFA ASIA CUP 2023 in Belgium in the first week of August. He further requested the Tibetans to participate in the upcoming greenbook-making activities to be carried out by the Department of Finance in the next few months.
Representatives of the Tibetan Community and all other associations were also in attendance. The official programme was followed by various cultural performances by the member community.
