Celebration of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama’s 90th Birthday
July 2025
This year the world is celebrating His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday!
For this occasion, special events are organised at the Main Tibetan Temple in McLeodGanj and in many centres around the world. Here at Tushita, 30 minutes up the hill from His Holiness’s Temple, we celebrated this precious event together with special guests and students on July 5 and 6!
FPMT Offering 100 Shakyamuni Buddha statues to His Holiness
In the morning of July 5, His Holiness the Dalai Lama attended a Long Life Prayer offered to Him by the Kashag of the Central Tibetan Administration on behalf of all the Tibetan people at the Main Tibetan Temple.
Five FPMT representatives joined in the long life puja and successfully offered 100 Shakyamuni Buddha statues on behalf of the entire FPMT organization. The statues were created in Nepal and filled and consecrated by Gyudmed Tantric Monastery in Dharamsala, India.
Ven. Roger Kunsang (CEO of FPMT), Ven. Topgye (Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s attendant who also helped arrange the creation of the 100 statues, along with delivery from Nepal to Dharamsala with Gen Tenpa Choden), Ven. Elisabeth Drukier (Director of Kalachakra Centre in Paris), Ven. Kunphen (co-director and SPC of Tushita Retreat Center), and Frances Howland (FPMT South Asia Regional Coordinator) had the great fortune (representing all of us within the FPMT family including everyone within the centers, projects, services, students, volunteers, and benefactors), to join in the actual long life puja. They offered 13 of the 100 statues within the long life puja procession. Ven. Roger Kunsang was able to personally offer three statues directly to His Holiness during the puja.
The remaining 87 statues were brought to His Holiness’s Private Office earlier on. These statues and offering were made on behalf of the entire FPMT family.
Special Guru Puja with Tsog
On the same day in the evening, we offered a Special Guru Puja with Tsog as part of the celebration program here at Tushita. The puja was led by our ex-resident teacher Venerable Thubten Wangdu.
Next morning, July 6, His Holiness the Dalai Lama attended a public program in honor of His 90th birthday organized by the Kashag of the Central Tibetan Administration on behalf of all the Tibetan people at the Main Tibetan Temple in McLeod Ganj.
Celebration of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama’s 90th Birthday at Tushita
In the afternoon, here at Tushita, we organised a Special Puja to pray for His Holiness’ long life and success, as advised by Lama Zopa Rinpoche, and screened Until Space Remains, followed by a session of questions & answers with Gaurav Saxena, the director of the movie.
Also present were Geshema Kelsang Wangmo, who was leading our annual advanced course on Four Tenets, and Venerable Thubten Dekyong (Anila Tsenla), who was responsible for the establishment of the Kopan nunnery, in Kathmandu, Nepal.
Venerable Roger Kunsang, CEO of FPMT, praised His Holiness’ qualities and shared stories about His Holiness, Geshe Sopa and Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
The gompa was full with students and visitors joining in the prayers and the offering of katags to His Holiness’ throne. We celebrated with sweet rice, chai and cake for everyone!
Happy Birthday was sang in English, Tibetan, Hindi, Hebrew, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Greek, Polish, Russian and Chinese!
In the evening, we all watched Until Space Remains, a movie about the untold story of the remarkable relationship His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Tibetans share with India. Afterwards Gaurav Saxena, the movie director, very kindly shared his experience and process of making the movie and answered many questions from the audience.
Special guests & Tushita team
Rejoice rejoice rejoice!