Tibetan Dhomey Association in Belgium organised a celebration of the 88th birthday of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, according to the Tibetan lunar calendar, on 4 June.

Representative Rigzin Choedon Genkhang attended the birthday celebration as the chief guest, accompanied by Office of Tibet, Brussels’ Secretary Thinley Wangdue and Accountant Tenzin Lekshey. In addition, representatives from Tibetan Community Association, Tibetan Youth Congress, Tibetan Women’s Association, Belgium’s regional U-tsang Association and Dhokham Chushi Gangtruk Association also attended the grand event.

Following the offering of a mandala and the three shrines to an enthroned portrait of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, President of Dhomey Association Tsaye Kelsang addressed the gathering highlighting two core objectives of the foundation of Domey Association which are to follow the directions of Central Tibetan Administration and to look after the welfare of Dhomey Tibetans in Belgium.

In her opening address, the chief guest Representative Rigzin Choedon Genkhang commended the organisers saying His Holiness the Dalai Lama is a pre-eminent leader of Tibet whose life-long contributions to the welfare of the Tibetan community, especially during the Tibet’s challenging time, are unparalleled. Hence, she urged everyone to unitedly pour their efforts into resolving Tibet’s issue, bearing the benevolence of His Holiness in mind.

She further appealed to Tibetans in Belgium to support and participate in 16th Kashag’s demographic survey and V-TAG initiative.

Before concluding the ceremony, the Vice-President of the Association conveyed appreciation remarks, followed by which the members of Dhomey Association and others performed traditional dances and recitation of Tibetan poetries.