Gangtok, June 26 (IANS) The 25th birthday of Urgen Thrinley Dorjee, the 17th Karmapa and second highest spiritual leader of the Tibetan Buddhists, was celebrated without any extravaganza at the Rumtek Monastery here Friday.
The monastery has the throne of the Karmapa, the head of the Kagyu sect of Tibetan Buddhists.

“Unlike previous years, Guruji has desired that this year his birthday be marked with charitable activities and social awareness programmes. We have not lined up any cultural shows nor are we cutting a birthday cake like we did in earlier years,” said Drubgyu Tendhar, a senior monk at Rumtek Monastery.

The monks distributed free eco-friendly dustbins and bedding materials to around 50 schools and social organisations, besides planting flowering trees in and around the monastery where thousands of devotees from all over the state and outside gathered to offer prayers and take part in the religious rituals.

The rituals included offering silk scarves and burning ‘Sangsol’, Tibetan incense before the Karmapa’s ‘photograph, and wishing for his long life and world peace.

The throne of the ‘Rinpoche’, as the Karmpapa is called, at Rumtek Monastery lies vacant since the Indian government has not allowed him to come to Rumtek because three others have made claims to the throne.

The Karmapa now lives in Gyuto Monastery in Dharamsala in Himachal Pradesh.