On July 6, 2026, thousands of Tibetan exiles gathered at the Main Tibetan Temple, Tsuglagkhang, in Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh, to celebrate the 91st birthday of the 14th Dalai Lama. The event featured prayers, cultural performances, and official ceremonies, drawing between 3,000 and 4,000 attendees, including local Indian residents and foreign supporters.
Celebrations begin with anthems and cake-cutting
The festivities commenced with the Indian and Tibetan national anthems, followed by a cake-cutting ceremony. Tibetan artists presented traditional cultural performances, while leaders of the Tibetan government-in-exile delivered speeches marking the occasion. Kangra Deputy Commissioner Hemraj Bairwa attended as the chief guest.
Dalai Lama celebrates in Ladakh; devotees pray for his health
Although the Dalai Lama spent his birthday in Ladakh, devotees in Dharamshala expressed joy at gathering together and prayed for his long life and good health. Tenzin Kunsel, a Tibetan woman, told ANI: "We all have gathered here to celebrate the 91st birthday of his holiness the Dalai Lama, and all of us are very happy. We wish him a healthy and long life." Foreign devotees Simon and Lucas remarked that they felt privileged to be present but missed the Dalai Lama's presence in Dharamshala.
Prime Minister Modi extends birthday wishes
Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended warm greetings to the Dalai Lama via X, praising his dedication to global peace and harmony. Modi stated: "Warm birthday greetings to His Holiness the Dalai Lama. His message of peace and harmony has been a guiding force for people across the world. His moral and spiritual strength and his commitment to global good are commendable. Wishing him a long and healthy life."
Prayers also held in Shimla
Concurrently, Tibetan Buddhist monks-in-exile and residents gathered at the Dorje Drak Monastery in Shimla to offer special prayers and participate in religious rituals, dedicating the day to the longevity and global message of their spiritual leader.
Dalai Lama's early life and exile
Born on July 6, 1935, in Takster, Tibet, to a small farming family, he was originally named Lhamo Thondup. At age two, he was recognized as the reincarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama and brought to Lhasa in October 1939. He was formally installed as head of the State of Tibet on February 22, 1940, and named Tenzin Gyatso at age six. He assumed full temporal leadership on November 17, 1950. Following the suppression of the Tibetan National Uprising in March 1959, the Dalai Lama fled into exile in India with over 80,000 refugees.
Annual event draws global followers
More than six decades after his exile, the anniversary remains a symbol of the struggle over faith, identity, and legitimacy. The event, organized annually by the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), continues to attract followers worldwide.
