Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], July 6 (ANI): The Tibetan Buddhist monks-in-exile offered special prayers to mark the 91st birthday of the 14th Dalai Lama at the Dorje Drak Monastery in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh. The monastic community and residents gathered early in the morning to participate in the religious rituals, dedicating the day to the long life and global message of the spiritual leader.

Born to a small farming family in Tibet’s Takster on July 6, 1935, he was originally named Lhamo Thondup, which literally means “Wish-Fulfilling Goddess", according to the Dalai Lama’s website.

At the age of two, he was recognised as the reincarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama and was brought to Lhasa in October 1939 before being formally installed as the head of the State of Tibet on February 22, 1940. Named Tenzin Gyatso at the age of six, the Dalai Lama was officially enthroned as the temporal leader of Tibet on November 17, 1950, in a ceremony held at the Norbulingka ...