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Tibetans in-exile celebrated fifty years of their stay along with their spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, in Himachal Pradesh's Dharamsala town on Thursday. Scores of Tibetans in-exile living in the region today gathered at an event organized by a local organization where the Dalai Lama was welcomed as the Guest of Honour. While addressing the event, the Dalai Lama thanked Indians for providing asylum to him and thousands of Tibetans. Tibetan officials in-exile and other spiritual leaders were also present to grace the occasion. "This is the programme of the Lion's Club of Dharamsala. They are honouring His Holiness and also a number of senior citizens on completing 50 years in Dharamsala, and other people and their various blessings," said Samdhong Rinpoche, Tibetan Prime Minister in-exile. Locals were also present to seek the blessings of their spiritual leader. "We are here to welcome him on the completion of 50 years and for all people to be blessed by him and receive his blessings, and appreciate his contribution to the welfare of people and spiritual atmosphere, and bring Dharamsala on world map," said P Sharma, a local. The Dalai Lama has lived in Dharamsala with thousands of his followers ever since they fled their homeland after a failed uprising against Chinese rule in 1959. In 1950, Chinese troops marched into Tibet and occupied it. An estimated 134,000 Tibetans live in exile, a majority of them in India and Nepal.

Tibetans-in-exile celebrate 50 years of being in India