Dharamshala, Mar. 2 (ANI): The Tibetan government-in-exile in Dharamshala held special prayers to mark the anniversary of the Tibetan uprising against the Chinese occupation, and their subsequent exile to India in 1959.

This was the first programme organised after the Dalai Lama’s arrival from United States, where he met US President Barrack Obama at the White House on February 18.

As part of the prayers, the Tibetan administration and the general Tibetans organised a ceremony for their spiritual leader, the 14th Dalai Lama.

Thousands of Tibetans, including Buddhist monks, gathered at the Tsuglagkhang Temple in Dharamsala to offer prayers for their leader’s long life.

“This time the central Tibetan administration as well as the general Tibetan public, they are jointly offering prayers for the long life of His Holiness, and simultaneously for the fulfilment of all his wishes, and His Holiness has just arrived from the United States, and this is the first programme organized by the Tibetan government,” said Lobsang Choedak, Information Officer of Tibetan Government in-exile.

The heads of the four schools of Tibetan Buddhism, officials from the Tibetan Supreme Justice Commission, Tibetan Parliament in-exile, the Kashag (governing council), and the autonomous bodies of Tibetan administration attended the prayer ceremony.

China has controlled Tibet since troops of the People’s Liberation Army took over the region in 1950.

Nearly a decade later, Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, led an abortive uprising against Chinese rule in 1959. (ANI)