The Regional Dhomay Association, Dhundupling, Clement Town in Dehradun observed a commemorative of the 30th anniversary of passing away of the 10th Panchen Lama Choekyi Gyaltsen today. The commemorative ceremony was observed to express the gratitude to lifelong efforts of the Panchen Lama for the welfare of the Tibetan people.
January 26, 2019 marks the 30th year of passing away of the 10th Panchen Lama Choekyi Gyaltsen in Tibet. The commemoration event held at the Tibetan Colony in Clement Town, Dehradun was graced by The 42nd Sakya Trizin, Ratna Vajra Rinpoche, Speaker of Tibetan Parliament in Exile, Mr. Pema Jugney, Kalon Yuthok Karma Gelek as well as Kriti Rinpoche, Yongzin Rinpoche along with the local dignitaries.
The Panchen Lama is the second most revered spiritual leader of Tibet after His Holiness the Dalai Lama, The two share a special spiritual relationship and are referred to as the ‘Sun and the Moon’ in the Tibetan Buddhist spiritual firmament.
Panchen Lama Choekyi Gyaltsen was a highly committed leader who took the gigantic task of interacting with the Chinese authorities on the issue of Tibet, remaining inside Tibet after His Holiness the Dalai Lama escaped into exile. Despite being a skilled leader, he even had to go through criticism from Chinese as well as his fellow Tibetan, through his long journey in the pursuit of justice for the Tibetan suppressed by the Chinese authorities.
However, the 10th Panchen Lama worked throughout his life for well being of the Tibetan people, with the historic 70,000 character petition addressed to the Chinese government, denouncing the abusive policies and actions of the People’s Republic of China in Tibet, landing him to imprisonment for more than a decade.
The commemorative ceremony also presented an extensive photo exhibition on the life of the 10th Panchen Lama to express the gratitude of the legendary Tibetan spiritual leader on behalf of the people of Tibet.