The Dalai Lama inaugurated the Kahndo-Dowa Songma Tawang district hospital and consecrated a Buddhist statue at its entrance. Later, he visited the Yid-Ta-G-Choezin ground where he planted saplings and also distributed some of them among the thousands of devotees assembled there.

Image: The Dalai Lama delivers Buddhist teachings in Tawang
Photographs: Adnan Abidi/Reuters

Addressing the devotees, the 74-year-old Tibetan monk asked the younger generation to join monasteries to carry forward Buddha's message of peace. "Buddhist culture and tradition have to be preserved at every cost," he said.

Image: The Dalai Lama arrives at a hospital at Tawang
Photographs: Adnan Abidi/Reuters

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Dorjee Kandu urged the people to preserve the Buddhist culture in this part of the country.

 

The Dalai Lama, who arrived in Tawang on Sunday on a four-day visit, had rebuffed China for objecting to his trip to Arunachal Pradesh and expressed surprise over its claims to Tawang, a revered seat of Buddhism.

Image: The Dalai Lama arrives on stage to deliver Buddhist teachings at Tawang

The Tibetan spiritual leader is on a tour of this remote north-eastern state after a gap of six years. It also marks 50 years of his escape from Tibet after a failed uprising against the Chinese rule there.

 

The Nobel Laureate has characterised his 'emotional' visit to Tawang, which has strong ties to Tibet, as non-political

Image: A monk looks back as their spiritual leader the Dalai Lama delivers Buddhist teachings at Tawang
Photographs: Adnan Abidi/Reuters