Tibetans in exile in Dharamshala marked the Tibetan New Year, Losar, on Tuesday, bidding farewell to the ‘Water Tiger year 2149’ and welcoming the ‘Water Hare year 2150,’ according to the Tibetan lunar calendar. The main Buddhist temple, Tsuglagkhang, was the venue for special prayers offered by ministers and members of the Tibetan government in exile. Monks from Namgyal monastery led the prayer ceremony, offering protractor prayers to the Palden Lhamo, the main protector of the Tibetan government and the Dalai Lama, and local spirits for good harvest and rain, and for the wellness of all human beings. Security minister Dolma Tsering explained that Tibetans and many people in the Himalayan belt follow the Tibetan lunar calendar, which is separate from the Chinese calendar. She also expressed her hope for unification with those in Tibet under the leadership of the Dalai Lama.

The Tibetan Youth Congress recently marked the 110th anniversary of the 13th Dalai Lama’s proclamation of Tibet’s independence with a Rangzen or freedom concert at Majnu ka Tila in New Delhi. The event featured songs and dances celebrating the independent lifestyle and freedom of Tibetans outside of Tibet, as well as highlighting their aspirations for independence.

However, the Tibet Press recently reported that suppression of Tibetans under China’s authoritarian regime continues, with intense monitoring and harsh consequences due to political sensitivity in the region. The Tibetan Youth Congress is a global organization of Tibetans fighting for the restoration of complete independence for the whole of Tibet, including the traditional three provinces of U-Tsang, Do-toe, and Do-med.