MYSORE: On Saturday as the Dalai Lama celebrated his birthday, the child in him came to the fore.

Having checked into Bylakuppe, 82 km from Mysore late on Friday, the Buddhist monk joined hundreds of Tibetans in the mass prayer at Sera Jay Monastery at 6am, attended multi-religious congregation where he had an open interaction with religious leaders and sought to connect to young asking them to make the 21st century, a century of compassion.

Rather than preaching, the spiritual leader was a personification of humility as he got up as soon as the arrival of chief minister Siddaramaiah was announced and continued standing till the CM reached the dais. He then walked up to him and shook hands.

On other occasion, when he was handed over a wireless microphone, he set about to check whether it is working fine.

The Dalai Lama, who told leaders from other religions that they would get bored if continued his address in Tibetan language, was also seen yawning himself during the event, making no bones that he was tired. When he was presented with a ‘Mysore Peta’ by Siddaramaiah, he promptly wore it, but took it off saying it was not conducive for such hot conditions and laughed with a childlike glee.

Expressing his gratitude to Karnataka for hosting Tibetans, he compulsively wore a Mysore Peta presented to him by Siddaramaiah and said “thank you very much” but took it off saying it is not for conducive to wear it in hot conditions and laughed heartily.

In the Dalai Lama’s case, the child was father of the man; though he celebrated his 78th birthday, he has never lost his childhood delights.

A festive atmosphere had descended over Bylakuppe and every inch was occupied by Tibetans at Sera Jey Monastery, the venue of his birthday celebrations. Sir Khazi of Mysore Moulana Mohammed Usman Shariff, Bishop of Mysore Rev Thomas Anthony Vazhapilly and Suttur mutt seer Shivaratri Deshikendra Swami attended the multi-religious event, where hundreds of monks, nuns and Tibetans-in-exile congregated from different parts India.

Addressing a strong 25,000 Tibetan gathering, he said: “All religions teach virtues of tolerance and denounce greed as it creates problems. It is important to lead a simple life.”

The 14{+t}{+h} Dalai Lama said he didn’t approve of preaching in the name of religion as it creates division. “It is our common responsibility to work together and not to divide people. I never try to propagate Buddhism,” he said. He added that everyone should pray for world peace and for the wellbeing of the seven billion people in the world, though one billion of them are non-believers.

“We should include them in our prayers to achieve love and compassion,” he asserted asking the children to make this century as the century of compassion, which is key for peace, and non-violence.

Such was his magnetism that 84-year-old Tenzin Yangdorl, who relocated to India from Tibet five decades ago, told TOI that she was lucky to be alive to be part of the auspicious occasion for every Tibetan. Yandorl, who lives in Kushalnagara, was at the monastery the whole day participating in various programmes like prayers, official birthday celebrations and cultural events despite being confined to a wheelchair. Tenzin Jigme, a new mother, and her relative Tenzin Dolma, from Kollegal Tibetan settlement too were part of the celebrations. They looked elated as it was for the first time that they were participating in Dalai Lama’s birthday celebrations.

Thousands of Tibetans including monks from all four Tibetan camps – Kollegal in Chamarajanagar district, Hunsur and Periyapatna in Mysore and Mundgod in Uttara Kannada – took part in the day long celebrations. Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah, Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Nabam Tuki, Tibetan prime minister-in-exile Lobsang Sangay were present at the event.

The Dalai Lama will be taking part in various programmes in both Sera Jey and Sera Mey monasteries till July 12 and he will leave to Gurupura camp in Hunsur where he will stay for a few days before leaving Mysore.