After a month-long stay of His Holiness Dalai Lama in Ladakh, LBA in collaboration with LGA hosted a luncheon party in honor of his holiness on August 3 at Jivetsal, Shey.

His Holiness Dalai Lama expressed gratitude for the arrangement made by different associations and people from all region of Ladakh.

His Holiness expressed his happiness over faith and respect that Muslims brother and sister has shown during his visit to Kargil, Zanskar, and Nubra. His Holiness said that the little differences which were there among the people are been cleared which His Holiness considered a great achievement during his visit to Ladakh.

As His Holiness is turning 84 next year, he expressed his preference to stay in Leh and relax at this age rather than visiting other places.

“People are praying for my long life but nobody can live permanently in this world which is a fact and we need to realize it”, His Holiness added.

Venerable Shatup Chamba, President, All Ladakh Gonpa Association said, “His Holiness has been visiting Ladakh since from the year 1966. Because of which monasteries and people of Ladakh are showing more interest in practicing the valuable teachings conferred by His Holiness. The interest in practicing Nalanda tradition is all because of your holiness teaching. The ill tradition of the caste system and consumption of alcohol has been tremendously gone down because of your teaching”.

Expressing happiness over his holiness visit to Ladakh and blessing the people, P. T Kunzang Vice President, Ladakh Buddhist Association requested His Holiness to visit again in the next year.

Cultural program was also presented by Northern cultural association.

After blessing the people of Ladakh, His Holiness left Ladakh on August 4.