Dalai Lama inaugurates World Peace Festival in Pune

Pune, Oct.10 (ANI): Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama inaugurated the World Peace Festival here on Sunday.

A Pune-based charitable trust organised the 'World Peace...Piece by Piece', and the end of the initiative, 'Happy Thoughts - World Peace Festival', was organised across 50 cities in the country on Sunday.

The Dalai Lama complimented India for championing the cause of 'Ahimsa' (non-violence) for thousands of years and praised the country's stability.

"Now I want to tell my Indian friends, this country India, I think last 2-3,000 years, the concept of 'Ahimsa' (non-violence) developed and practised through generations. Even today, compare neighbouring states," said the Dalai Lama.

"This country inspired through many difficulties and problems but still competitively this country is more stable and more peaceful," he added.

"Today's world, India is still practising these things. Now that you must realise that is India's treasure. You can make some contribution for rest of the world and different religions can live together on the basis of mutual admiration, mutual respect. So, I think we Indians must tell and show the world," said the Dalai Lama.

An estimated 80,000 Tibetans arrived in India along with the Dalai Lama after an abortive uprising against the Chinese rule in 1959 and over the years their numbers have swelled. (ANI)