Preserve, promote age-old culture and tradition: Dalai Lama

Itanagar:You should not only preserve but also promote your age-old culture and tradition’ advised the Dalai Lama while recollecting his journey to India through Tawang and West Kameng districts in Arunachal Pradesh.
While speaking in a meeting to commemorate the 55th year of His Holiness arrival and first preaching at Tawang monastery in 1959, the Dalai Lama said Arunachal Pradesh was special to him.
He said he was ready for any support from his side. The event was organised by the Tendhon Culture Preservation Society of Tawang monastery yesterday at Mundgod in Karnataka to mark the day at Gaden Jangtse Monastery, according to official sources here today.
The function was conducted on the sidelines of Lamrin Preaching of His Holiness, which was attended by a large number of dignitaries, monks and nun and devotees from across the world. The legislators of Tawang and West Kameng districts and Abbot of Tawang monastery Guru Tulku presented a souvenir to the Dalai Lama to mark the historic occasion.
He expressed his pleasure over the gesture from the leaders of the state and the Union MoS as well as the Karnataka government for the help and support to the Tibetans.
Addressing the gathering, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju thanked the Dalai Lama for his kind gesture towards the people of the state.
‘We might have lost Tibet but we have the Dalai Lama,’ said Mr Rijiju while ensuring all out efforts and assistance to him and his people in India.
In his speech, Pema Khandu, Minister UD, Tourism, Art and Culture of Arunachal Pradesh, said the people of Mon region of the state were fortunate to have been blessed by him with his first ever preaching at Tawang monastery 55 years ago.
Khandu is also the chief patron of Tendhon Culture Preservation Society Describing His Holiness as the apostle of peace and a spiritual leader of foremost order in the world, the Minister also commended his advice for rationale and scientific analysis of Buddhist religious scriptures, sources added.
He also read out the message of Arunachal Pradesh chief Minister Nabam Tuki sent for the occasion. (UNI)