Tibetans living in exile herald New Year with peace prayers at Panthaghat - India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

Tibetans residing in exile at the hill town of Panthaghat in Himachal Pradesh welcomed the New Year by offering special prayers for global peace alongside staging a cultural function on Monday. Hundreds of Tibetans gathered at the Dorjeedak Tibetan Buddhist monastery here and took part in the special prayers recited on the occasion of Gutor festival that is celebrated on the 29th day of the Tibetan 11th month. On this occasion, the Tibetans, dressed in their traditional colourful costumes, participate in various religious ceremonies of the spectacular extravaganza. High Buddhist Lama offers special prayers and other Tibetan monks perform Lama dances and at the end of the ten-day they conduct the Torma burning prayers. A Tibetan monk said that these prayers are very special for the entire humanity. "This is a very special prayer as we prayed for the whole world; we are praying for the happiness and peace of the whole world. This is very traditional and all sentient being these are very powerful Tantrik prayers," said Yonten, a Buddhist monk. The Tibetans who took part in this event also hailed freedom of religion in India. "We can perform these prayers easily in India which we can't do in our own country (Tibet is under Chinese occupation). We can easily participate in our religious functions and rituals here," said Tenzin Kunsang, a Tibetan woman. Traditionally, in Tibet these prayers are offered just two days before the last year to signify the onset of New Year and usher good fortune.