Tibetan Exile Community Activism

Collage of Images from Various 2011 Candle Light Vigils in McleodGanj

McleodGanj, HP, north India has been the exile home of HH Dalai Lama since shortly after he fled the Chinese occupation of Tibet in 1959. It is the location of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile (CTA, Central Tibetan Administration) and home to thousands of Tibetans who followed His Holiness into exile in India as well as their descendants, some now as great as fourth generation exiles.


The community holds events through out the year, and on special occasions, to maintain their cultural identity as well as show solidarity with those still suffering in Chinese occupied Tibet. Candle Light marches and prayer vigils (pictured above) are held whenever a Tibetan sacrifices his life for the cause of freedom.


One of the largest annual events is the commemoration of Tibetan Uprising Day (pictured below).

Collage of Images from 2011 Tibetan Uprising Day Events in McleodGanj

Since 2011, tensions inside Tibet have once again been increasing. Reportedly the situation is worse now than since the 2008 protests. 

Today, February 8, 2012, has been declared a day for International Solidarity with Tibetans. Prayer vigils are taking place around the world, as well as peaceful protests by Tibetans and supporters in front of Chinese embassies from New Delhi, India to London, UK to New York and Washington DC.

Today is Lhakar, White Wednesday, a day when Tibetans traditionally "assert their identity by wearing traditional clothes, avoid using Chinese words and shop only in Tibetan-owned businesses.


US readers can sign a letter, in one simple step, addressed to their Senate representative, to support US Senate resolution 356 supporting the Tibetan people and encouraging the Chinese to open the region to international media, in addition to further steps.