Tibetans living-in-exile greet US President Obama

Dharamsala, Feb 15 (ANI): Tibetan refugees residing in Himachal Pradesh have written letters of greetings to US President Barack Obama, on the occasion of Losar, the Tibetan New Year and ahead of his proposed meeting with their spiritual leader the Dalai Lama.

Tibetan Women's Association (TWA) set up a signing booth to collect 700 signatures on the 'I Love Tibet' postcards, which would be dispatched through a priority mail to the White House in Washington within the first week of his meeting with Dalai Lama.

The Tibetans signed the postcards, wishing Obama 'Tashi Delek', the traditional New Year greeting, and expressing their hope that the meeting will result in some concrete action vis-à-vis their homeland, presently under Chinese occupation.

"On this day we are wishing him (Obama) a very good Losar (Tibetan New Year), very best of luck to him," said Dolkar Lahmo, President of the Tibetan Women's Association.arlier, the Dalai Lama extended his wishes to all Tibetans in the world and even wished China on their new year.

He has also requested the exiled Tibetans to not carry out a grand celebration, due to the tense situation prevailing in Tibet.

"We are not celebrating the New Year, Losar, in a very grand way; we are only performing the religious ceremony and rituals. I wish all the Tibetans inside and outside Tibet and also forward my greetings of Losar to all followers in Himalayan regions, and to all the friends and Buddhist followers," the Dalai Lama said.

"I would only say that every Tibetan and Buddhist follower should study and learn Buddhist philosophy, and study modern culture and Tibetan philosophy. So, this is the most important message I would give today to Tibetan and Buddhist followers in the Himalayan region and others," he added.

Last year, Tibetans in exile had unanimously called off New Year celebrations in the aftermath of China's crackdown after the March 2008 uprisings in Tibet. (ANI)