Dharamsala (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Thousands of Tibetans celebrated the Dalai Lama's 71st birthday. The Tibetan spiritual leader, who has been living in exile in India since 1959, was however indisposed and had to cancel a trip to Europe.

According to his private secretary, Tenzin Geshe, the Dalai Lama will not visit France, Finland and Spain because, although "he has no particular health problem," he needs to rest.

The Dalai Lama's birthday celebrations took place in a temple near his home in Dharamsala. Thousands of exiled Tibetans gathered to sing, dance and pray.

Around 140,000 Tibetan exiles live in India.

Samdhong Rinpoche, who heads the Tibetan government in exile, said that "today is a very special occasion because the world saw the birth of a great leader not only for Tibetans, but for the whole of humanity".

Following his exile in India, the Dalai Lama has sought to raise the world's awareness about Tibet's cause. But Beijing has always shown a cold shoulder towards the Tibetan leader accusing him of wanting to divide the Chinese nation and increase anti-Chinese hatred in the world.

In order to engage China in a dialogue—and stop its economic and cultural colonisation of Tibet—The Dalai Lama has had to abandon his original goal of independence. Instead, he has called on Beijing to grant his country a "wide autonomy". But China has always refused any dialogue.