by Jenny Stone
Joy, devotion and vibrant festivity marked the 90th birthday celebrations of Most Precious His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama in Dharamsala, India, on June 30 and July 6, 2025. These two events marked His Holiness’ birthday according to the Tibetan Lunar and western calendars respectively. This article is drawn from reports found at https://www.dalailama.com/news.
Dhomey Provence birthday celebration and long-life offering ceremony
Amid monsoonal rains, the June 30 celebration was held in the courtyard of Tsuglagkhang, the Main Tibetan Temple. It was organized by the Dhomey Cholkha people from Amdo, where His Holiness was born. An estimated 7000 attendees spilled across three packed venues.
His Holiness was greeted by the organising committee, eminent lamas of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, members of other Buddhist traditions and representatives of Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, Baha’i, Judaism, Jainism and Sikhism.
Peerless teacher of the 21st century
Kyabje Kirti Rinpoche read an extensive tribute to His Holiness entitled ‘A Melodious Symphony of Thunderous Clouds’. The beautiful tribute highlighted that His Holiness had clearly demonstrated that Tibetan Buddhism both “derives from and preserves the authentic Nalanda tradition”. The tribute then went on to state that:
“By promoting love, compassion, contentment, patience, and moral discipline and pointing out that cultivating these qualities is the essential teaching of all religions, His Holiness has encouraged mutual respect and admiration across the world’s faith traditions and established bridges between them. In this way he has shown himself to be a peerless teacher leading the world towards peace.”
Kirti Rinpoche then announced that His Holiness was to be offered a special award, “The Peerless Teacher of the Twenty-First Century”. A beautiful, symbolic sculpture of precious gold and silver was then presented to His Holiness by the Tibetan spiritual leaders, members of the Tibetan administration and representatives of other religious traditions, linked to each other by an extremely long khata.
After further offerings, Prayers for Long Life, tea and ceremonial sweet rice, and a brief address from the Chairman of the Organising Committee, His Holiness was invited to speak.
His Holiness confirms that the institution of the Dalai Lamas will continue
At this point the Dalai Lama announced that “As far as the institution of the Dalai Lama is concerned, there will be a framework for it to continue… I think I have been able to serve the Dharma and sentient beings and I am determined to continue to do so.”
The celebration then continued with an amazing cake, traditional dancing and singing, and the release of a three-volume biography of His Holiness, a pictorial book illustrating His Holiness’ life and a two-volume compendium of articles and poems celebrating His Holiness’ achievements.
His Holiness’ website reported that: “as His Holiness returned to his residence, the expression on his face, and those of the members of the crowd he passed, was full of joy.”
A beautiful, brief video of the day is found here.
Launch of the Year of Compassion
A key celebratory aspect of the July 6 event organised by the Central Tibetan Administration, was the launch of the “Year of Compassion”. In his address, Sikyong Penpa Tsering on behalf of the Tibetan Kashag (Parliament-in-exile), praised His Holiness and announced that “we are dedicating the twelve months from today as a Year of Compassion and we call on our friends and supporters to join us in observing it.”
A special message was then read out from Prime Minister Modi:
“I join 1.4 billion Indians in extending our warmest wishes to His Holiness the Dalai Lama on his 90th birthday. He has been an enduring symbol of love, compassion, patience and moral discipline. His message has inspired respect and admiration across all faiths. We pray for his continued good health and long life.”
His Holiness then briefly addressed the gathering, followed by several speakers including the Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-exile, Richard Gere, and Honoured Guests Tashi Gyalson from Ladakh, Ven Sonam Lama from Sikkim, Pema Kandu of Arunachal Pradesh, and Shri Kiren Rijiju and Rajiv Ranjan Singh from the Government of India.
Shri Kiren Rijiju, Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, said:
“On behalf of the people and government of India I bow down before His Holiness’s lotus feet and wish him a very happy birthday and a long life so he can continue to guide us and suffering humanity with his compassion. He is a visionary statesman and a spiritual master whose influence extends to global ethics. His teachings on compassion, mindfulness and interdependence resonate with people of all faiths and backgrounds.”
A message was also read out from US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, and brief video messages were shown from Presidents Bill Clinton, George W Bush and Barack Obama along with a message from the President of Taiwan.
President George W Bush said: “Happy 90th birthday to my friend the Dalai Lama. Your Holiness the world is a troubled place. We need your spirit of kindness, compassion and love more than ever. Thank you for the example you set. Here’s hoping for many more happy birthdays.”
A brief video of the event is found here.
*Images from the website of the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
The Tibetan Buddhist Society’s tribute to His Holiness on the occasion of his 90th birthday is found here.