Remote Sikkim village near China border celebrates Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday

SUJAL PRADHAN

GANGTOK, : The remote East Sikkim village of Sherathang, perched just 5 km from the Indo-China border at Nathu La Pass, marked the 90th birthday of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama with a deeply spiritual and communal celebration. With just over 25 households, the tiny hamlet may be small in size, but it holds a big heart when it comes to honouring the Tibetan spiritual leader.

For over five decades, the villagers of Sherathang have come together every year to commemorate the Dalai Lama’s birthday with faith. This year’s celebration carried special significance, as the world closely watches developments around the next reincarnation of the Dalai Lama, a subject that has drawn global attention and geopolitical interest.

What sets Sherathang’s celebration apart is its unique blend of tradition and unity. Not only do villagers participate wholeheartedly, but Indian Army personnel stationed at the border also join the festivities, adding a powerful symbol of harmony between civilians and soldiers in one of the most sensitive geopolitical regions in the world.

Nima Sherpa, the traditional headman of the border village, played a key role in organising the event.

Speaking to the media, Sherpa said, “Today, His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday is being celebrated all over the world, and today it is also being celebrated here in our small village of Thangro. It is said how and when it should be celebrated, and that is being followed. And what we learned from our elders, we too got the opportunity to do the same today.”

The event saw the gathering of all families from the village. Traditional Buddhist prayers were chanted, butter lamps were lit, and simple but heartfelt offerings were made. Locals prepared homemade meals and sweets, which were shared among the villagers and soldiers alike. Children dressed in traditional attire took part in cultural performances, while elders offered blessings and prayers for peace, harmony, and the long life of the Dalai Lama.