<p>The Dalai Lama landed in Assam's main city of Guwahati from New Delhi at 7.45 a.m. <br /><br />"The Dalai Lama is very happy and is excited to be in Arunachal Pradesh," T.G. Rinpoche, a senior Buddhist spiritual leader and former Arunachal Pradesh minister said over telephone from Guwahati after receiving the Dalai Lama at the airport. <br /><br />Since morning, people lined up on both sides of the streets of Tawang, starting from near the helipad some eight kilometres from the town. <br /><br />"We are simply excited and blessed to have the Dalai Lama here," said Sarwang Lama, a middle aged monk attired in a new robe. <br /><br />Tibetan prayer flags and banners, including life size posters of the Dalai Lama, adorned the streets and rooftops to welcome the Tibetan spiritual leader. <br /><br />At the Tawang monastery, about 800 monks, including several senior clergies, were present to give the Dalai Lama a religious welcome. <br /><br />The Dalai Lama Sunday would inaugurate a museum and a library at the monastery and then address monks and priests. <br /><br />"The Dalai Lama's main itinerary begins Monday when he starts the prayer session at a school playground near the monastery. That would be his first public appearance," said Guru Tuku, the abbot of the monastery. <br /><br />It was through Tawang, a revered seat of Buddhism, that in 1959 the Dalai Lama escaped the Chinese to enter India. <br /><br />The Tibetan leader will then visit the adjoining town of Bomdilla and Dirang Nov 12, before leaving for state capital Itanagar Nov 14. The visit ends Nov 15. <br /><br />China has raked up a controversy by asking India not to allow the Tibetan spiritual leader to visit Arunachal Pradesh.</p>
<p>The Dalai Lama landed in Assam's main city of Guwahati from New Delhi at 7.45 a.m. <br /><br />"The Dalai Lama is very happy and is excited to be in Arunachal Pradesh," T.G. Rinpoche, a senior Buddhist spiritual leader and former Arunachal Pradesh minister said over telephone from Guwahati after receiving the Dalai Lama at the airport. <br /><br />Since morning, people lined up on both sides of the streets of Tawang, starting from near the helipad some eight kilometres from the town. <br /><br />"We are simply excited and blessed to have the Dalai Lama here," said Sarwang Lama, a middle aged monk attired in a new robe. <br /><br />Tibetan prayer flags and banners, including life size posters of the Dalai Lama, adorned the streets and rooftops to welcome the Tibetan spiritual leader. <br /><br />At the Tawang monastery, about 800 monks, including several senior clergies, were present to give the Dalai Lama a religious welcome. <br /><br />The Dalai Lama Sunday would inaugurate a museum and a library at the monastery and then address monks and priests. <br /><br />"The Dalai Lama's main itinerary begins Monday when he starts the prayer session at a school playground near the monastery. That would be his first public appearance," said Guru Tuku, the abbot of the monastery. <br /><br />It was through Tawang, a revered seat of Buddhism, that in 1959 the Dalai Lama escaped the Chinese to enter India. <br /><br />The Tibetan leader will then visit the adjoining town of Bomdilla and Dirang Nov 12, before leaving for state capital Itanagar Nov 14. The visit ends Nov 15. <br /><br />China has raked up a controversy by asking India not to allow the Tibetan spiritual leader to visit Arunachal Pradesh.</p>
