Dalai Lama's Nobel Peace Prize Celebrated in India

Dalai Lama's Nobel Peace Prize Celebrated in India 
2009-12-10 11:28

The Dalai Lama was awarded the Noble Peace Prize in 1989. Every year since then, Tibetans observe the 10th of December as an occasion to celebrate. On Thursday, hundreds of Tibetan exiles in India gathered at a Buddhist temple in the town of Dharamsala.

[Thubten Samphel, Spokesperson, Tibetan Government-in-exile]:
"So this is the recognition on the part of the international community that his holiness has made very important contributions to making the world a more peaceful place and it is also their recognition that through his... by his force of character, his holiness has kept the Tibetan struggle non-violent and peaceful." 

Tibetan artists performed colorful cultural dances, played traditional musical instruments and sang songs in their regional language. 

The Dalai Lama has lived in exile in India since fleeing China in 1959.

He is a well-known advocate for religious freedom and autonomy for Tibet, putting him at odds with the Chinese Communist Party or CCP.

The CCP has controlled Tibet since troops marched into the region in 1950. Critics have accused the CCP of repressing Tibetans' religious freedom.

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Tags:

• Dalai Lama
• Nobel Peace Prize
• Human Rights
• China