Tibetan spiritual leader, the 14th Dalai Lama, will celebrate his 90th birthday on July 6 in Dharamshala, before embarking on a month-long visit to Ladakh starting July 12. Confirming, his secretary Tenzin Taklha said that the revered monk will depart Dharamshala on July 9 and, upon reaching Leh, will spend a few days acclimatizing to the regions high-altitude climate before participating in religious teachings and public events.   Anticipation is running high in Ladakh, where both the Tibetan community and local administration have begun elaborate preparations to welcome the Dalai Lama. He is also expected to visit Zanskar towards the end of July, where additional teachings and interactions with devotees will be held.   Adding further significance to this spiritual journey, a major announcement related to his reincarnation is expected on July 2. According to Sikyong Penpa Tsering, president of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), the Dalai Lama will remain in Dharamshala from July 2 to 4 to meet senior lamas of the four principal Tibetan Buddhist traditions — Sakya, Kagyu, Nyingma, and Gelug — before his birthday.   The global Tibetan and Himalayan communities, especially in Himachal, Ladakh, Uttarakhand, and Arunachal Pradesh, are awaiting this announcement with deep spiritual interest. The Chinese Government has previously expressed opposition to the Dalai Lamas stance, seeking control over the selection of his successor. However, the Dalai Lama has firmly stated that his reincarnation will take place in a free society, not under political influence.   In 2011, he formally relinquished political leadership, transferring authority to the democratically-elected CTA. The July 2 announcement is expected to mark a historic moment in Tibetan history, potentially shaping the future of Tibetan Buddhism for generations.

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