Dalai Lama arrives in Leh for month-long stay, asks people to preserve Buddhist legacy | India News

SRINAGAR: Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama arrived in Ladakh on Saturday for a month-long visit, receiving a warm welcome from hundreds of people who lined the streets to greet him.Addressing people, he said people of the Himalayan region must uphold their sacred duty to protect, sustain and promote the rich legacy of Buddhist teachings and wisdom that once thrived in Tibet.The Dalai Lama last visited Ladakh in 2023. His planned trip in July 2024 was cancelled due to a knee surgery in the US.At Leh airport, senior officials, political representatives and religious leaders were present to receive the Buddhist leader. Among those welcoming him were Ladakh MP Haji Hanifa Jan, Ladakh DGP S D Singh Jamwal, and the chief executive councillor of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Leh, Tashi Gyalson.According to the UT government, thousands of devotees and well-wishers gathered along the route from the airport to Jivetsal Choglamsar. They were in traditional attire and carried ceremonial scarves, offering prayers and chanting in celebration of his arrival.Addressing people at the Jivetsal Photang, the Dalai Lama said it is important to nurture “a heart of compassion and kindness for the benefit of all sentient beings”.