Long Life Prayers and Cultural Performances for the Dalai Lama

On September 20, 2025, hundreds of devotees from Southeast Asia and South Korea gathered at the Main Tibetan Temple in Dharamsala, India, to offer long life prayers for His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. The event took place under clear skies after days of heavy monsoon rain, creating a joyful and auspicious atmosphere for the occasion.

The temple courtyard was beautifully decorated with colourful fabrics, marigold garlands, and orchids. As His Holiness arrived, he was warmly welcomed by organisers and well-wishers. Lion dancers lined his path to the throne, while monks from the Theravada tradition offered traditional Pali chants in his honour.

Ms. Ng Wee Nee, President of the Tibetan Buddhist Centre in Singapore and chairperson of the ceremony, welcomed the Dalai Lama and explained that participants had gathered to pray for his continued health, longevity, and tireless work in spreading the Dharma. She presented him with a medallion marking the “Year of Compassion,” recognising his lifelong commitment to promoting peace and compassion worldwide.

Representatives from various Buddhist centres offered mandalas and symbolic representations of the Buddha’s enlightened body, speech, and mind. A joint statement praised the Dalai Lama as a global spiritual leader who embodies peace, universal responsibility, and interfaith harmony. In a significant gesture of unity, Asian Buddhist leaders present at the gathering unanimously proclaimed him the “Universal Supreme Patriarch of the Buddhist World,” affirming their dedication to fostering compassion and harmony.

The ceremony was followed by vibrant cultural performances from eight countries, including Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Singapore. Traditional dances, including peacock and lion dances accompanied by long-life prayer scrolls, brought colour and celebration to the spiritual gathering.

The event concluded with dedication prayers, expressing the hope that the merit generated would support the Dalai Lama’s long life and contribute to lasting peace and well-being across the world.