The Philippine Online Chronicles

The Dalai Lama’s 75^th birthday today was marked by celebrations in his hometown-in-exile in Dharamshala, India but his compatriots in Tibet were unable to honor the occasion.

Despite heavy rains, the Tibetan spiritual leader (also known as Tenzin Gyatso), addressed a packed crowd of 5,000 followers at his temple in McLeod Ganj, a hill station in the Indian Himalayas where he has lived since fleeing Tibet in 1959, Agence France Presse reported.

He said, “the Tibetans in Tibet have a great desire to celebrate my birthday but they are not allowed to."

According to Hindustan Times, the Dalai Lama was born July 6, 1935, to a farming family in a small hamlet in Taktser in Amdo province in northeastern Tibet. At two-years-old, he was recognized as the reincarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama, Thubten Gyatso, in 1937.

The present Dalai Lama has lived over five decades of his life in exile in India. He charms common people to world leaders with his simplicity, religious knowledge and child-like wit. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 for his non-violent struggle for Tibet.

A spokesman for the Tibetan Member of exiled Parliament (MP) Karma Yeshi said, "The 75th birthday of His Holiness is a big event. Celebrations by various organizations will continue through the year. His holiness himself keeps it as a low-profile event. Long-life prayers, functions in Dharamsala and other Tibetan settlements in India and other countries, photo-exhibitions and other events will be held this year for His Holiness."

The Dalai Lama is recognized as both the head of state and the spiritual leader of Tibet. Although he has expressed his willingness to go back to Tibet and resolve the complicated Tibetan issue by agreeing to an autonomous Tibetan set-up under Chinese control, Beijing has shown no inclination to oblige him, Examiner.com posted.