At the invitation of the local Tibetan community, NGOs, Regional Tibetan Youth Congress (RTYC), Tibetan Women’s Association and the Center School for Tibetans (CST) Dalhousie, His Holiness The 17th Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje visited Dalhousie, district Chamba, on the 4th of October 2007. His Holiness consecrated and inaugurated a new settlement to benefit particularly scattered and destitute Tibetans.
The settlement project was funded through Tibetan Home Affairs by foreign supporters of Tibet. His Holiness presented the prizes awarded to students who topped the Center School Examination. During the visit, he CST students presented Tibetan cultural dances and songs. The school principal, Mr. Phunrab Choesang, spoke to the assembly, stating “It is our great merit that His Holiness has blessed this place” and expressed the deeply felt gratitude and many Tashi Delek to His Holiness. The principal narrated a short biography of His Holiness in Tibetan, English and Hindi to the public.
On the second day of the visit, His Holiness gave a public teaching based on The Six Perfections (Prajnaparamita) and conferred the Amitayus empowerment on the public consisting of thousands of devotees from the regions all around and foreigners. Later in the afternoon His Holiness consecrated the Tibetan Handicraft Center and school with prayers. The Dalhousie Tibetan Handicraft Center is one of the first and most famous handicraft makers among the various Tibetan handicrafts makers all over India.
In the morning of the third day of the visit, 6th October, His Holiness was invited to the oldest Gyuto Monastery for a consecration ceremony. That afternoon he visited the tourist point of Khachari. With an escort of motor bike, cars and many followers, His Holiness and the entourage left Dahousie for Dharamshala, reaching his residence at Gyuto Monastery, Sidhbari, in the evening. The visit to Dalhousie was very successful and benefited thousands of people with profound blessings. All were very happy and felt blessed by Holiness’s graceful visit. – Tashi Paljor
