Trending This Week on Social Media: Thank You Himachal Pradesh Event

On Monday this week, Thank You India yearlong campaign under the initiative of Central Tibetan Administration culminated with the ‘Thank You Himachal’ event in the state capital, Shimla. Likewise, netizens across the globe were glued on the live webcast of the event via CTA official Facebook page @TibetTV.

Governor of Shimla Shree Acharya Dev Vrat as the chief guest attended the event. Also present were Shree Virbhadra Singh, former Chief Minister of Shimla; Representative of the Chief Minister’s Office, Shree Mahender Singh, Minister of Irrigation and Public Health; and other state government officials and dignitaries.

At the beginning of an event, 7-minute video message of His Holiness the Dalai Lama was played where he expressed himself as a proud citizen of the Himachal Pradesh and student of the rich Indian tradition.

“I always refer to Himachal Chief Minister and Governor as My Governor and My Chief Minister because now for nearly 59 years, I have lived here. In the summer of 1960, I reached here so I consider myself as a citizen of this state,” said His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Shree Acharya Dev Vrat said India and Tibet share integral relationships for centuries. Also, he said we never considered Tibetans in exile different from Indian counterparts.

He added that the third generation of the Tibetan community is contributing to the progress of the country by adopting India’s culture and language. “This country belongs to you as much as to the people of India”, said Acharya Devvrat.

CTA President Dr Lobsang Sangay in his keynote address said, “It is a karmic connection that His Holiness the Dalai Lama came from Lhasa, the land of gods, and found refuge in Dev Bhumi, the other name for Himachal Pradesh which also means the land of gods.”

A glimpse of netizens’ reactions on the celebration of Thank You Himachal Event in the state capital, Shimla: