Gaya: Special prayers were organized at world heritage Mahabodhi Mahavihara and the Namgyal Tibetan monastery, Bodhgaya, on Saturday to celebrate the 89th birthday of Tibetan Buddhists spiritual leader, the 14th Dalai Lama, declared as “Universal day of compassion”.
A procession decorated with colourful flags and banners, was taken out from the monastery, carrying the portrait of the Dalai Lama.The procession concluded at Mahavihara. Devotees offered robes, flowers and fruits to the statue of Buddha in the sanctum sanctorum, praying for good health and long life of the Dalai Lama.
At Namgyal monastery, devotees lit 90 lamps and prayed for long life of their spiritual leader. Monks and devotees chanted sacred mantras, praying for the Dalai Lama’s well being and thanking him for devoting his life for promoting global peace and compassion.
At other monasteries the day was celebrated by cutting cakes amid chants by the monks.
District magistrate-cum-Bodh Gaya temple management committee (BTMC) chairman Thiyagarajan SM, committee secretary Mahasweta Maharathi, Indosan Nipponjee (Japan) monastery secretary Ven Kiran Lama besides a large number of devotees from different monasteries in Bodh Gaya participated in the programme.

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