Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Celebrations as Dalai Lama turns 75
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Australia
China
India
Indonesia
Japan
Malaysia
Philippines
Thailand
Vietnam
Celebrations as Dalai Lama turns 75
AFP - 2 hours 26 minutes ago
Send
IM Story
Print
DHARAMSHALA, India (AFP) - – The Dalai Lama turned 75 Tuesday, a milestone marked by celebrations in his hometown-in-exile but also reflection on 50 years of fruitless negotiations with China on the future of Tibet.
The Tibetan spiritual leader was to address a crowd of 5,000 followers at his temple in McLeod Ganj, a hill station in the Indian Himalayas where he has lived since fleeing Tibet in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule.
In apparently fine health, the Buddhist spiritual leader will break with recent birthday tradition and greet well-wishers in person.
"This time, as it's his 75th birthday, he also wanted to join the function," said Tashi Norbu, an official in the Tibetan government-in-exile based in nearby Dharamshala.
Elsewhere, Tibetan communities in North America, Europe and Australia are gearing up for cultural events to celebrate the day, while numerous Internet campaigns are collecting birthday messages.
At an age when most others are putting their feet up, the Dalai Lama keeps up a globe-trotting schedule that would tire someone half his age, travelling to countries willing to defy Chinese pressure not to grant him a visa.
China vilifies the exiled monk as a separatist. He denies the charge, maintaining he only wants "meaningful autonomy" for Tibet under Chinese rule.
In an average year, he is away from home for about half the time and in the past 12 months he has visited France, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Germany, Poland, the United States (twice), Taiwan and most recently Japan.
As the years go by, however, thoughts are inevitably turning to the issue of succession.
The Dalai Lama has been in hospital twice in recent times -- for a pinched nerve in February last year and for surgery to remove stones from his gall bladder in October 2008.
While decades of on-off negotiations with Beijing have seen no tangible progress, the Nobel peace laureate has been extremely successful in keeping the Tibet issue alive with a campaign that continues to attract global sympathy.
There is however concern that his death might prove a fatal blow to the cohesion and momentum of the Tibetan movement that has relied for so long on his leadership and the reverence in which he is held by the exiled community and beyond.
China has already indicated that it will take a hard line on the selection of a successor, with Qiangba Puncog, Tibet's former governor, insisting in March that final approval lies with Beijing.
Traditionally, the search for a new Dalai Lama is conducted by high lamas who fan out across Tibet to find the reincarnation.
Using ritualistic clues, the current Dalai Lama was plucked from his impoverished parents' home aged four.
Senior exiled Tibetans argue that their movement is bigger than any one personality and will survive the passing of its long-time leader.
"What we believe very strongly is that the issue of Tibet will not die," the Dalai Lama's chief representative, Tempa Tsering, said during a visit to Japan in April.
In McLeod Ganj, a van with loudspeakers toured the narrow, traffic-clogged streets on Monday inviting people to join the birthday celebrations.
"All the Tibetans who live locally will go," said 26-year-old Diki Youdon. "It's always hard to get a seat and this year there will be even more people because it's the 75th birthday."
The event will be streamed live at http://dalailama.com/live.
"On your 75th birthday, we wish you all the best and pray for your long and fruitful life," said one banner hanging above the zigzagging narrow road that leads to misty McLeod Ganj.
Local community magazine Contact published a poem on its front page "for the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama".
Norbu said the Dalai Lama was in good health, adding: "He doesn't look 75. He looks in his 50s."
"All Tibetan people will be praying for his long life," he said.
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
Related Articles
Firebombs thrown at Indonesian magazine offices AFP - 22 minutes ago
Thailand extends emergency rule in Bangkok: govt AFP - 1 hour 6 minutes ago
New death in restive Indian Kashmir: police AFP - 1 hour 38 minutes ago
Greenpeace publicises companies on Indonesia paper AFP - 2 hours 14 minutes ago
Celebrations as Dalai Lama turns 75 AFP - 2 hours 31 minutes ago
News Search
Top Stories
Chavanel in yellow as Schlecks, Armstrong crash
Argentina claims victory on bond deal
Clinton vows support for Georgia, slams Russian 'occupation'
Greece on target to tackle deficit
Lower German deficit an example for Europe: Berlin
More Top Stories »
Most Popular
Most Viewed
Most Recommended
Reclusive top mathematician turns down prize, again
Japanese probe yields insights into Moon's inner life
Lady Gaga leads race to get 10 million on Facebook
Paris Hilton arrested after Brazil World Cup match: reports
BP oil spill costs spike above $3 bln
More Most Viewed »
Reclusive top mathematician turns down prize, again
Aussie men shoot each other in buttocks 'to see if it hurts'
Amputee cat gets bionic legs
Fans gather for Michael Jackson death anniversary
Who's right - the dolphin or the octopus?
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Asia Entertainment
Photos
World Cup 2010
Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
Other News on Tuesday, 6 July 2010 Factbox
Greece on target to tackle deficit
Turkey wants Israel apology but Israel rejects demand
UK coalition launches shake-up of political system
|
Thousands mass near Gaza border for Shalit concert
Clinton vows support for Georgia, slams Russian 'occupation'
Bosnian ex-leader fights extradition attempt in Britain
Iran says planes denied fuel due to sanctions
Kyrgyz leader warns of new unrest
Britain, Germany, UAE deny refusing fuel to Iran planes
Tour peloton shrugs of cobblestone worry
Iranian planes can still refuel in Dubai: airport spokesman
EU parliament group backs U.S. bank data deal
|
Biden defends Afghan war strategy
US commander Petraeus 'may tweak Afghan strategy'
Guinea security forces break march with tear gas
|
Three NATO soldiers killed in Afghanistan
Mexico state votes signal tough 2012 election race
|
Iran says Germany, UK and UAE refuse fuel to its planes
France won't charge reporters, aid workers for rescue
|
Romanian military aircraft crash kills 10
|
EU eyes visa-free travel for Taiwan visitors
Israelis, Palestinians call for prisoner exchange
|
Pakistan end their Australia losing streak
Thailand seeks extension to emergency rule
Clinton concerned over Russian bases in Georgia region
Pakistan kills wanted Taliban commander
Chinese court sentences US geologist to 8 years
Galliano sends out a 'Wonderland' garden of couture for Dior
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Louis Gossett details career marred by racism and drugs
"Hannah Montana" starts final season as Miley moves on
"Twilight" sequel eclipsed by earlier installment
Woody Allen starts Paris shoot with Carla in the wings
Japanese eating champ released after hot dog scuffle
Senegal's men win Soccer v Soaps television war
Twilight sequel eclipsed by earlier installment
|
Hannah Montana starts final season as Miley moves on
|
Louis Gossett details career marred by racism and drugs
|
Reports of planes denied refuelling are 'false': Iran
India's poor risk 'slow death' recycling 'e-waste'
Iranian planes are getting fuel
Ecuador says Colombia's Santos could be arrested
|
Argentina claims victory on bond deal
US-TECH Summary
Afghanistan urges Pakistan to target terror groups
Digital upstarts still see potential in downloads
Obama and Netanyahu to hold fence-mending talks
Iranian planes are getting fuel: foreign ministry
|
Fujitsu to let developers test software for free-Nikkei
4.2 billion dollars have left Kabul airport: report
News Corp in talks to sell ads on MySpace: report
McCain: Kandahar is key to victory in Afghan war
Cuban hunger striker says he is near death
|
Israelis and Palestinians call for prisoner exchange
Thailand extends emergency rule in Bangkok: govt
Twelve die as Turkish troops clash with PKK
|
Firebombs thrown at Indonesian magazine offices
New death in restive Indian Kashmir: police
Japan PM in danger of missing election target: report
|
Greenpeace publicises companies on Indonesia paper
Celebrations as Dalai Lama turns 75
Vietnam murders blamed on World Cup
Aussie rockers to pay for 'Kookaburra' rip-off
Warmer White House welcome expected for Netanyahu
Australia plans to ship refugees to Timor
Power outage hits Toronto during Queen's visit
Japan parties pin poll hopes on celebrities
Philippine police say Chinese man rescued
Clinton vows support for Georgia, slams Russian 'occupation'
Eating champ leaves NY jail after hot dog fracas
Minimum and maximum temperatures in Celsius
Fujitsu to let developers test software for free
|
Google, Bing search engines turn to music
|
Digital upstarts still see potential in downloads
|
China sets new record investment in Japan bonds
News Corp in talks to sell ads on MySpace: report
|
Greenpeace names, shames companies over deforestation
Seoul shares turn up 0.6 pct on autos, techs
Disney may start Shanghai park work in Nov: report
China to pump billions into western regions
Chinese city to become next gourmet hotspot
S.Lanka dismisses EU's trade concession withdrawal
China may strip sovereign wealth fund of bank stakes
Google, Bing search engines turn to music
Taiwan's Chinatrust: still seeks AIG unit stake
Enrique Iglesias mixes things up with new album
Restrictive Lollapalooza contract draws state scrutiny
PAKISTAN
S.Korea Q2 FDI plans down 6 pct y/y
Extraordinary "Inception" may leave you exhausted
Queen Elizabeth tours Toronto film studio
Fresh faces, new-look veterans enter Emmy spotlight
Barber of Seville director leaves La Scala production
Fresh faces, new-look veterans enter Emmy spotlight
|
Extraordinary Inception may leave you exhausted
|
Restrictive Lollapalooza contract draws state scrutiny
|
Google, Bing search engines turn to music
|
Enrique Iglesias mixes things up with new album
|
New Twilight sequel trails previous film overseas
|
Queen Elizabeth tours Toronto film studio
|
Israeli soldier faces manslaughter charges over Gaza deaths
Lauvergeon stays in power at nuclear group Areva
Iran says planes get fuel; EU bans some for safety
|
Global chip sales up 4.5 percent in May versus April: SIA
Sarkozy facing crisis over campaign donations
Iran agrees to resume nuclear talks, with conditions
Obama and Netanyahu to hold fence-mending talks
|
Ryanair, Aer Lingus lose appeals in takeover battle
Dutch cabinet advisors ban Twitter during talks
Spain's FM in Cuba as hunger-striker nears death
New sanctions seen hurting Iran businesses in Dubai
Sri Lanka hardliners protest U.N. war crimes probe
|
Netflix inks movie deal with Relativity Media
Chavanel in yellow as Schlecks, Armstrong crash
Bus driver 'shoots dead six near Cairo'
China denounces new unilateral U.S. sanctions on Iran
|
Polish PM vows to work closely with new president
|
Egyptian driver shoots dead six labourers
Thai government extends state of emergency
|
Turkish troops clash with PKK, 13 killed
Hundreds of thousands mourn Lebanon's Fadlallah
|
Global chip sales up 4.5 percent in May versus April: SIA
Yemen faces Qaeda, pirate threats in vital strait
|
Israeli and Turkish generals still talking amid row
|
Putin sets out new strategy for N.Caucasus
|
Thai government extends state of emergency
Philippine Supreme Court gets on Facebook, Twitter
China says jailing of U.S. geologist its own affair
Japan's NHK won't air sumo meet over mob scandals
Netflix inks movie deal with Relativity Media
|
Global chip sales up 4.5 percent in May versus April: SIA
|
Dutch cabinet advisors ban Twitter during talks
|
At Sun Valley, brighter moods may not mean big deals
|
IMF says time is right for higher S.Korea policy rate
Canadian rockers Arcade Fire maintain DIY mystique
New "Twilight" sequel trails previous film overseas
Pakistani rupee falls to record low; stocks still dull
Sluggish Asian markets revive on Shanghai rebound
DEALTALK-MBK's $2 bln Taiwan auction may have broader PE impact
S.Korea govt official sees August rate rise -report
S.Korea c.bank to sell 2.5 trln won in MSB on Wed
Seoul shares turn up 0.6 pct on auto, tech issues
George Michael arrested after car crash
|
Canadian rockers Arcade Fire maintain DIY mystique
|
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights