Dharamshala (Himachal Pradesh) [India], July 5 (ANI): As Tibetans around the world prepare to celebrate the 90th birthday of the 14th Dalai Lama on July 6, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju joined the celebrations on Saturday in Himachal Pradesh's Dharamshala and wished him a long and healthy life.

Speaking to ANI, Rijiju asserted that the Dalai Lama is a religious leader, and the Indian government believes in not interfering in religious matters.

He added that people around the world benefit from the Dalai Lama's wisdom.

'Dalai Lama institution is purely religious and the government of India believes there should be no interference in religious matters... I would like to wish His Holiness a long life... All his devotees desire to see him healthy so that the global community can benefit from his wisdom,' Rijiju said.

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju also met and received blessings from His Eminence Tenzin Wangchen, the 10th Lhagyala Rinpoche, during his visit to Dharamshala.

https://x.com/KirenRijiju/status/1941508814534328580

In a post on X, Kiren Rijiju wrote, 'Met and received blessings from His Eminence Tenzin Wangchen, the 10th Lhagyala Rinpoche at Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh.'

According to the Gregorian calendar, the Dalai Lama's birthday is officially observed on July 6.

The occasion is being marked with festive spirit and devotion by Tibetan communities and followers across the region.

On July 2, the Dalai Lama stated that the Gaden Phodrang Trust, a foundation established by him, can only recognise future reincarnations, and no one else has the authority to decide on the matter. This statement rules out any say for China in the process of naming the next Dalai Lama.

In a statement on Wednesday, Dalai Lama stated, 'The process by which a future Dalai Lama is to be recognized has been clearly established in the 24 September 2011 statement which states that responsibility for doing so will rest exclusively with members of the Gaden Phodrang Trust, the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. They should consult the various heads of the Tibetan Buddhist traditions and the reliable oath-bound Dharma Protectors who are linked inseparably to the lineage of the Dalai Lamas. They should accordingly carry out the procedures of search and recognition in accordance with past tradition.'

'I hereby reiterate that the Gaden Phodrang Trust has sole authority to recognise the future reincarnation; no one else has any such authority to interfere in this matter, he added. (ANI)