Dalai Lama recollects journey from Tibet 55 years ago

The Dalai Lama has recollected his journey from Tibet to Arunachal Pradesh in 1959 and urged the people of the state to preserve and promote their culture and tradition.

In his recollections, the spiritual leader narrated how he reached Tawang and West Kameng districts of Arunachal Pradesh after leaving Tibet 55 years ago. "You should not only preserve but also promote your age old culture and tradition," the Dalai Lama told a function at Mundgod in Karnataka to commemorate the 55th year of his arrival and first preaching at Tawang Monastery in Arunachal Pradesh in 1959.

The function was organised by the Tendhon Culture Preservation Society of Tawang monastery on Friday, a press release said here. Union MoS for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju, who was also present, said "we might have lost Tibet, but we have the Dalai Lama."

The function was attended by a Arunachal Pradesh team headed by Tourism Minister Pema Khandu and several monks. Mundgod is a repository of Tibetan life and culture. It showcases the lifestyle and ambitions of the Tibetan refugees and reflects the gradual transformation of a traditional society into modernity. It has been referred to as Mini Tibet.