Tibetan nuns celebrate His Holiness’s 80th birthday

His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 80th birthday on July 6th was celebrated by Tibetans all over the world with great excitement and prayers for his good health and long life.

Nuns offering prayer scarves to portrait of His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Nuns offering prayer scarves to portrait of His Holiness the Dalai Lama

At Dolma Ling Nunnery and Institute, home to over 230 nuns, the day started at 6 am with everyone —  the nuns, teachers and all the staff — seated in the prayer hall at 6 for tsok and offerings of khataks (prayer scarves) to His Holiness.

Tibetan Buddhist nuns incense offering

At 7 am they had sangsol (incense offering) after which breakfast was served in the nuns’ dining hall.

Tibetan nuns playing games on His Holiness birthdayAfter this everyone enjoyed the morning playing outdoor games such as a relay race, a tug-of-war between different groups of nuns, staff, and teachers, a game musical chairs, a sack race and other competitions and games such as the bursting of a balloon tied on another person’s ankle.

Buddhist nuns playing tug of war Dalai Lama birthday

For lunch a beautiful vegetarian meal was served. This was then followed by a open quiz competition in philosophy, general knowledge, English and Tibetan. The person with the correct answer was given a surprise gift.

Tibetan Buddhist nuns playing musical chairs

Tibetan Buddhist nuns playing musical chairs as part of the day of celebration for His Holiness’s birthday.

All around the courtyard area we could see nuns and staff enjoying games such as badminton, cricket, and football.

Judging the annual flower competition on July 2nd, Universal Prayer Day

Judging the annual flower competition on July 2nd, Universal Prayer Day

Dinner which was served at 7pm and the winner of the annual flower competition, held on July 2nd, was called and given her prize. On July 2nd, Universal Prayer Day, the old debate courtyard at the nunnery was filled with beautiful potted flowers placed in-front of portraits of His Holiness. Scoring for the competition was done by the teachers.

Tibetan nuns annual flower competition 2015
After dinner everyone gathered together and the nuns showcased little dramas that they had prepared for the occasion and then the floor was open to anyone to show their talent.

flower competition by Buddhist nuns

3 thoughts on “Tibetan nuns celebrate His Holiness’s 80th birthday

  1. Lisa Brandt

    It is such a joy to see how happy the nuns are on this auspicious occasion! Being able to find such joy in the practice of one’s religion is a priceless gift

    Reply

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