Nepali President Arrives in Tibet , Festival Disrupted

Friday, October 29, 2010

The Tibet Post
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A Nepalese Army officer salutes President Ram Baran Yadav, right, as he leaves for a five-day goodwill visit to China to attend the closing ceremony of the Shanghai World Expo 2010, in Katmandu, Nepal, Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2010. (AP Photo/Binod Joshi)

Dharamshala: A Tibetan religious festival was disrupted by Nepal authorities on Friday, just one day after the president Yadav arrived in Tibetan capital, Lhasa whilst on his way to Shanghai , leading a delegation of 17 people. This is a Buddhist festival celebrated to observe the descent of Buddha from heaven back to earth.

Not only political events, now the authorities also carried out their policy on religious activities. "Basically all Tibetans planed to gather at the Namgyal middle school located near by Swayambhu on Friday to hold a special prayers of the festival (Lhabab Dhuchen), unfortunately, hundreds of security personals and police deployed in the city to disrupt the festival, not letting us to travel around," Rigzin, currently living in Kathmandu told The Tibet Post International.

This festival symbolizes the descent of Lord Buddha from 33rd heaven after his mother and preaching her the Dharma. It falls on the 22nd day of the 9th Month of Tibetan calendar, which around October - November. It is also part of Tibetan Buddhist tradition to engage in virtuous activities and prayer on this day, but nothing to do with the political issues of Tibet .

China has put heavy pressure on Nepal against activities carried out under the banner of the ‘Free Tibet' movement in the Himalayan region. The authorities foiled the election mid-way and seized ballot-boxes after saying it received stern instructions from the Prime Minister's office on Sunday (5, October) not to allow the voting to continue "at any cost". The voting was in progress in Bouddha, Swayambhu and Jawalakhel areas.

Dr Ram Baran Yadav, whose visit to Tibet began on Tuesday, has said Nepal remains committed to 'one China ' policy and that no anti-Chinese activities will be allowed on Nepali soil.

The visit, which is his first to China after assuming the position two years ago, aims to boost Nepal's bilateral ties with it's giant neighbor, which has stepped up pressure on Kathmandu to clamp down on the anti-Beijing protests by Tibetan refugees in the country.