My life long commitment is to promote religious harmony: Dalai Lama

Dharamsala (Himachal Pradesh), Apr 3 (ANI): Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama on Saturday said that his life long commitment is to promote religious harmony.

Addressing the media at Kangra airport in Dharamsala before leaving for Uttarakhand, Lama said his life long commitment is to promote religious harmony.

He will visit Haridwar and Rishikesh on April 3 to April 4, for a series of programmes being organised by Parmarth Niketan, an ashram in Rishikesh, as a part of the ongoing Maha Kumbh mela.

Lama said there were protests from some Buddhist groups on his last participation in the Kumbh mela, almost 40 years back, adding that they have realized their mistake now.

"One of my life long commitment is promotion of religious harmony. I think almost 40 years ago, I participated in the Maha Kumbh Mela, for the first time. So at that time I received some sort of protests from some Buddhist group. Now, I think everybody now knows my commitment," said Lama.

Tibetan Prime Minister in-exile Samdhong Rinpoche said that the highlight of Lama's visit would be to bless the landmark publication 'Encyclopaedia of Hinduism', which took more than 15 years to compile.

"He is being invited by so many saints and sadhus of the Indian people and he will join them and the basic purpose of his visit is to release the Hindu Vishav Kosh, the encyclopaedia of Hinduism, that is going to be released tomorrow," said Rinpoche.

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat, senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Lal Krishna Advani and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) President Ashok Singal are expected to join the Dalai Lama during the blessing ceremony. (ANI)