Tibetans hold peaceful march in Dharamsala to honour Lobga Ranzen
A large number of Tibetans on Thursday took part in a peaceful march in Dharamsala to honour Lobsang Palden, also known as Lobga Rangzen, and commemorate Tibetans who have sacrificed their lives for the Tibetan cause.
Arvind Sharma
Aug 20, 2026 09:12
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Dharamsala, August 20, 2026: A large number of Tibetans on Thursday took part in a peaceful march in Dharamsala to honour Lobsang Palden, also known as Lobga Rangzen, and commemorate Tibetans who have sacrificed their lives for the Tibetan cause.
The march was jointly organised by the Kashag, the Cabinet of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), and the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile to mark the 49th day since Palden died following self-immolation outside the United Nations headquarters in New York on July 2.
The programme began with a two-hour prayer service at Tsuglagkhang in McLeod Ganj, following which participants marched towards the Police Ground in Dharamsala. The 49th day holds special significance in Tibetan Buddhist tradition.
Tibetan leaders said the march was aimed at paying tribute to Palden and others who had sacrificed their lives for Tibet, while drawing attention to what they described as continued repression inside Tibet.
According to the CTA, Palden had undertaken the self-immolation protest against China's policies in Tibet and the recently implemented "Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress Law", which Tibetan groups contend threatens their distinct cultural, linguistic and religious identity.
The peaceful demonstration in Dharamsala was attended by senior Tibetan leaders, including members of the Kashag and the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile.
