Dalai Lama asks Tibetans not to celebrate New Year

Dharmasala, Feb 15: The exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, Dalai Lama has urged Tibetans not to indulge in the two week long new year celebrations of Losar to honour the decision taken by those in Tibet.

"We have heard some voices inside Tibet that they will not celebrate Losar. We should respect and abide by that call," the Dalai Lama said, while speaking to thousands of Tibetans gathered at the main Buddhist temple in the north Indian town.

Dalai Lama, who was addressing the people in Tibetan, spoke about how Tibetans who lived in exile enjoy many freedoms that those living in Tibet did not have.

If the Tibetans decide to act on the leader's call, it will be the second year that the Tibetan new year celebrations has been abandoned in Dharamsala.

In 2009, the Tibetans in exile had collectively taken the decision to not celebrate Losar in the view of the aftermath of China's crackdown after the the Mar 2008 revolt in Tibet.

The Dalai Lama is expected to meet US president Barack Obama in the coming days. This move by the spiritual leader has invited the ire of China.

He did not make any political comments on China or his upcoming trip to Washington in the speech.

OneIndia News