The Dalai Lama celebrates his 80th birthday

Jun 22, 2015

The Dalai Lama celebrates his 80th birthday

Emma Patti Harris 0 Comment World Dalai Lama, Dharamsala, Tibet

The Dalai Lama marked his official 80th birthday on Sunday, with prayers and celebrations at his hometown in exile but little to show for decades of lobbying seeking greater Tibetan autonomy.

The Nobel laureate will be in the United States when he turns 80 on July 6, but Sunday is his official birthday according to the Tibetan lunar calendar, and he celebrated with his family, fans and followers in Dharamsala.

: The Dalai Lama (R) greets thousands of his followers at his 80th birthday celebrations at Tsuglakhang temple in McLeod Ganj on 21 June 2015 as Sikyong – Prime Minister of the Central Tibetan Administration -, Lobsang Sangay (L) gestures. The Dalai Lama marked his official 80th birthday on June 21, with prayers and celebrations at his hometown in exile but little to show for decades of lobbying for greater Tibetan autonomy. (AFP Photo/P / )

: Exile Tibetan Buddhist nuns watch their spiritual leader the Dalai Lama on a television during an official prayer ceremony to celebrate his 80th birthday in Dharmsala, India, Sunday, June 21, 2015. The Dalai Lama was born on July 6 according to the Gregorian calendar but his birthday this year falls on June 21 according to the lunar calendar followed traditionally by Tibetans. (AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia)

: Tibetan Spiritual leader the Dalai Lama wears a Nyingma – one of the five traditional schools of Tibetan Buddhism – hat during an event to celebrate his 80th birthday at Tsuglakhang Temple in McLeod Ganj on June 22, 2015. The Dalai Lama marked his official 80th birthday on June 21, with prayers and celebrations at his hometown in exile but little to show for decades of lobbying for greater Tibetan autonomy. (AFP Photo/Narinder Nanu)

: Tibetan Buddhist monks listen to the Dalai Lama speaking at an event to celebrate his 80th birthday at Tsuglakhang temple in McLeod Ganj on June 22, 2015. The Dalai Lama marked his official 80th birthday on June 21, with prayers and celebrations at his hometown in exile but little to show for decades of lobbying for greater Tibetan autonomy. (AFP Photo/Narinder Nanu)

: Exile Tibetan artistes prepare to present a song to the Dalai Lama at his 80th birthday celebrations at Tsuglakhang temple in McLeod Ganj on 21 June 2015. The Dalai Lama marked his official 80th birthday on June 21, with prayers and celebrations at his hometown in exile but little to show for decades of lobbying for greater Tibetan autonomy. (AFP Photo/P / )

: Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama wears a ceremonial hat during an official prayer ceremony to celebrate his 80th birthday in Dharmsala, India, Sunday, June 21, 2015. The Dalai Lama was born on July 6 according to the Gregorian calendar but his birthday this year falls on June 21 according to the lunar calendar followed traditionally by Tibetans. (AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia)

: Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama wears a ceremonial hat during an official prayer ceremony to celebrate his 80th birthday in Dharmsala, India, Sunday, June 21, 2015. The Dalai Lama was born on July 6 according to the Gregorian calendar but his birthday this year falls on June 21 according to the lunar calendar followed traditionally by Tibetans. (AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia)

: Tibetan Buddhist monks listen to Dalai Lama speaking at an event to celebrate his 80th birthday at Tsuglakhang temple in McLeod Ganj on June 22, 2015. The Dalai Lama marked his official 80th birthday on June 21, with prayers and celebrations at his hometown in exile but little to show for decades of lobbying for greater Tibetan autonomy. (AFP Photo/Narinder Nanu)

: Tibetan Spiritual leader the Dalai Lama (L) speaks with The Chief Minister of the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh Virbhadra Singh (C) and leader of the Tibetan government-in-exile, Lobsang Sangay (R) during an event to celebrate his 80th birthday at Tsuglakhang Temple in McLeod Ganj on June 22, 2015. The Dalai Lama marked his official 80th birthday on June 21, with prayers and celebrations at his hometown in exile but little to show for decades of lobbying for greater Tibetan autonomy. (AFP Photo/Narinder Nanu)

: Tibetan Spiritual leader the Dalai Lama (C) is accompanied by The Chief Minister of the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh Virbhadra Singh (3R), leader of the Tibetan government-in-exile, Lobsang Sangay (R) and others as he cuts a cake during an event to celebrate his 80th birthday at Tsuglakhang Temple in McLeod Ganj on June 22, 2015. The Dalai Lama marked his official 80th birthday on June 21, with prayers and celebrations at his hometown in exile but little to show for decades of lobbying for greater Tibetan autonomy. (AFP Photo/Narinder Nanu)

: Tibetan Spiritual leader the Dalai Lama (C) is offered cake by The Chief Minister of the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh Virbhadra Singh (R) during an event to celebrate his 80th birthday at Tsuglakhang Temple in McLeod Ganj on June 22, 2015. The Dalai Lama marked his official 80th birthday on June 21, with prayers and celebrations at his hometown in exile but little to show for decades of lobbying for greater Tibetan autonomy. (AFP Photo/Narinder Nanu)

: Exile Tibetan Buddhist nuns watch their spiritual leader the Dalai Lama on a TV during an official prayer ceremony to celebrate his 80th birthday in Dharmsala, India, Sunday, June 21, 2015. The Dalai Lama was born on July 6 according to the Gregorian calendar but his birthday this year falls on June 21 according to the lunar calendar followed traditionally by Tibetans. (AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia)

: Tibetan Spiritual leader the Dalai Lama (L) is accompanied by The Chief Minister of the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh Virbhadra Singh (C) and the leader of the Tibetan government-in-exile, Lobsang Sangay (R) as he releases a Thangka – traditional painting – of his life during an event to celebrate his 80th birthday at Tsuglakhang Temple in McLeod Ganj on June 22, 2015. The Dalai Lama marked his official 80th birthday on June 21, with prayers and celebrations at his hometown in exile but little to show for decades of lobbying for greater Tibetan autonomy. (AFP Photo/Narinder Nanu)

: Tibetan Spiritual leader the Dalai Lama (R) is accompanied by The Chief Minister of the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh Virbhadra Singh (C), as he greets foreign students during an event to celebrate his 80th birthday at Tsuglakhang Temple in McLeod Ganj on June 22, 2015. The Dalai Lama marked his official 80th birthday on June 21, with prayers and celebrations at his hometown in exile but little to show for decades of lobbying for greater Tibetan autonomy. (AFP Photo/Narinder Nanu)

: An exile Tibetan Buddhist monk carrying a Buddha statue waits for his turn to offer traditional gifts to his spiritual leader the Dalai Lama during an official prayer ceremony to celebrate his 80th birthday in Dharmsala, India, Sunday, June 21, 2015. The Dalai Lama was born on July 6 according to the Gregorian calendar but his birthday this year falls on June 21 according to the lunar calendar followed traditionally by Tibetans. (AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia)

: Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, left, smiles during an official function to mark his 80th birthday in Dharmsala, India, Sunday, June 21, 2015. The Dalai Lama was born on July 6 according to the Gregorian calendar but his birthday this year falls on June 21 according to the lunar calendar followed traditionally by Tibetans. (AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia)

: The Dalai Lama (R) speaks at an event to celebrate his 80th birthday at Tsuglakhang temple in McLeod Ganj on June 21, 2015. The Dalai Lama marked his official 80th birthday on June 21, with prayers and celebrations at his hometown in exile but little to show for decades of lobbying for greater Tibetan autonomy. (AFP Photo/P / )

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