Hollywood actor Richard Gere and his son participated in celebrations in Dharamshala and the neighbouring regions of Kangra in Himachal Pradesh ahead of the Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday bash. For the unversed, according to the Gregorian calendar, the Dalai Lama’s birthday falls on July 6. But festivities began on June 30 following the Tibetan calendar. Besides Richard Gere, the much-anticipated celebrations will be attended by spiritual leaders, dignitaries, and well-wishers from across the globe.
During a recent chat with ANI, Richard Gere, who was at Nechung Monastery, said he was in Dharamshala to celebrate His Holiness’s 90th birthday, his good health, his strength, and compassion. “Nechung is one of my oldest friends… this monastery is very important to me and my son.”
#WATCH | Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh | Hollywood Actor, Richard Gere, says “All of my friends are here to celebrate the 90th birthday of the 14th Dalai Lama… This monastery is very important to me and my friends. It is always a delight being here.” https://t.co/V2S2XJHkid pic.twitter.com/DXnPwnsCKq
ANI (@ANI) July 1, 2025
Richard also mentioned that Nechung has been to his residence in the US and has been very close to his son. “It’s always a delight being here. I’ve seen the pleasure of being here many times, so I feel like I have a connection with Nechung now,” Gere added.
During an important ritual that was held at the Nechung Monastery, the Nechung Oracle, who is referred to as one of the protector deities of the Tibetan community, entered into a trance state to bless the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) and its leaders. CTA President Penpa Tsering, ministers, parliamentarians, and many Tibetan devotees had also attended the event.
Tsering talked about the relevance of the ceremony. He called it an invocation of the Nechung Oracle. Nechung, along with Palden Lhamo, is an official protective deity of the Tibetan administration.
On June 30 celebration at Tsuglagkhang, which is an important Tibetan temple in Dharamshala, Dalai Lama was seen making a brief public appearance. He stressed on his dedication to maintaining peace, compassion, and service to the Tibetan people.
Swami Chidanand Saraswati of Parmarth Niketan Ashram called Dalai Lama as a blessing to the world. “His message is clear: peace over conflict. We are here to celebrate his 90 years of love and healing.”
From July 2 to 4, Dharamshala will organise a three-day international Buddhist conference. The event will see the congregation of senior monks and scholars from varied global traditions.
