Dalai Lama may name reincarnation on July 2: Report
Bengaluru: The 14th Dalai Lama is expected to make a significant announcement, most likely on his reincarnation, on July 2, four days before he turns 90 on July 6.
“Dalai Lama will make an important announcement on July 2. It is likely to be about his reincarnation,” The New Indian Express quoted Penpa Tsering, Sikyong (President), Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), as saying.
The announcement is set to coincide with a high-level meeting in Dharamshala, where the Nobel Peace Prize-winning monk will convene with senior leaders from the four major Buddhist sects—Sakya, Kagyu, Nyingma, and Gelug—between July 2 and 4. Dharamshala also serves as the headquarters of the CTA.
The question of the Dalai Lama’s reincarnation holds deep significance, not only for Tibetans but also for communities across the Himalayan region, from Lhasa to Arunachal Pradesh, who revere him as their spiritual guide. However, the issue remains a contentious one with the People’s Republic of China, which regards the Dalai Lama as a separatist figure and a symbol of Tibetan resistance, added the report.
In 2011, the Dalai Lama formally stepped down as the political head of Tibetans in exile, transferring his responsibilities to the democratically elected leadership of the CTA. At the time, he made it clear that his successor, male or female, will be born in a free world, a pointed message challenging China’s claim of having the exclusive right to appoint the next Dalai Lama.
As part of the upcoming milestone, the CTA is reportedly planning for a year-long celebration marking the Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday, which will begin on July 2, 2025, and continue until July 2026.
“We are celebrating the period as the ‘Year of Compassion’ and have scheduled multiple events, from prayers for His Holiness’ long life to religious and cultural events, which will be spread throughout the year,” said Tsering.
Meanwhile, the July 6 celebrations are expected to witness the presence of prominent dignitaries, including a Union minister, several chief ministers, and Members of Parliament. Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara has also been invited by the Central Tibetan Administration, recognising the state’s unique connection to the Tibetan community. Karnataka is home to the world's largest Tibetan diaspora, with five major settlements—two in Bylakuppe (Mysuru district), and one each in Mundgod (Uttara Kannada), Hunsur (Mysuru), and Kollegal (Chamarajanagar).
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3 terrorists killed in encounter with security forces in J-K
Srinagar(PTI): At least three unidentified terrorists were killed in a fierce gun battle with security forces in the forests of Harwan near Dachigam in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday, officials said.
"Three terrorists have been neutralised in an intense firefight. Operation Continues," Srinagar-based Chinar Corps of the Army posted on X.
The identity and group affiliation of the slain terrorists were being ascertained.
Security forces had launched a massive operation to track down the perpetrators of the Pahalgam attack that left 26 people dead, and intelligence inputs over the past month had suggested that the terrorists might have moved towards the Dachigam area, which is around 20 km from Srinagar's city centre.
However, it was not immediately clear if the three slain terrorists were involved in the April 22 attack.
The security forces, acting on an intelligence input, launched an anti-militancy operation in the Mulnar area of Harwan on Monday morning. Two rounds of gunshots were heard from a distance as security forces were carrying out searches of the area.
Reinforcements were rushed to the area, and the combing operations intensified, which led to the elimination of the three terrorists.
