Celebrating the Congressional Gold Medal for His Holiness the Dalai Lama
Tibetans all over the world celebrated the conferment of the Congressional Gold Medal Award, the highest United States Civilian Honor, to His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama on 17th October, 2007. Click here to read the full text of His Holiness the Dalai Lama's Gold Medal Acceptance Speech.
The award is in recognition of the Dalai Lama's many enduring and outstanding contributions to peace, non-violence, human rights and advocacy of religious harmony throughout the world and for his efforts to find a peaceful and democratic reconciliation for the Tibet issue through dialogue with the Chinese leadership.
The award, perhaps the most significant international tribute to the Dalai Lama since he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989, will be presented by Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, at a ceremony in the Capitol building at which President George W. Bush and Laura Bush will be present.
This was the first time that a U.S. President has appeared in public with the Dalai Lama.
The Congressional Award is reserved for individuals who display the highest moral courage. Past recipients have included Pope John Paul II, Mother Teresa, Elie Wiesel and Nelson Mandela.
The Organizing Committee consisting of 9 Tibetan NGO's; Tibetan Youth Congress, Tibetan Women's Association, National Democratic Party of Tibet, Gu-Chu-Sum Movement of Tibet, Students for a Free Tibet, U-tsang Association, Dotoe Association, Dhomey Association, and Choesum Chikdril, sent free invitation to all the Tibetans and Tibet supporters in Dharamsala to join us in our celebration of this historical event.
Sub Divisional Magistrate, DC Rana and representative of Assembly of Tibetan People's Deputy, Mrs. Dolker Lhamo were the chief guests for the ceremony at TIPA.
Many beautiful cultural dances were performed in the morning by groups such as Thangthong Lugar, Mcleod Day school, Yongling, and the three provinces of Tibet. Ceremonial sweet rice and tea were also served. Tug-O-War followed in the afternoon and Tibetan Transit School bagged the top prize in both men and women competition.
Around 10,000 Tibetans and supporters flocked to Tipa to see the Live Telecast of the Gold Medal Award Ceremony that was shown on Big Screen at 10 pm at TIPA.