Hundreds of Tibetans on Friday paid homage to Jamphel Yeshi -- the Tibetan youth who immolated himself on March 26 in New Delhi -- who was later cremated as per Buddhist rites.
All roads leading to McLeodganj were choked by Tibetans who assembled to pay homage to the youth at Tsuglakhang temple on Friday.
Yeshi's mortal remains were brought from Delhi on Friday morning. The coffin was placed at Tsuglagkhang temple near Dalai Lama's palace, where over 7,000 Tibetans of all ages, including school children, monks, nuns and officials of Central Tibetan Administration, participated in a prayer session.
Emotions ran high as mourners cried as Yeshi's coffin was brought to the temple courtyard.
"He was very close to me. Deeply pious, martyr Jamphel Yeshi was the first to attend religious gatherings and prayer sessions. He was very active in political programmes. He has sacrificed his life for Tibetans who are suffering under Chinese rule," said a sobbing Pempa Dhundup, a roommate of Yeshi at Tibetan Transit School hostel in Dharamsala for more than a year.
Addressing the gathering after the prayer session, Tibetan parliament-in-exile speaker Penpa Tsering said, "Hu Jintao is responsible for loss of two more lives since he came to India. The question is how many more Tibetan lives have to be lost before the issue of Tibet is resolved."
{{/usCountry}}Addressing the gathering after the prayer session, Tibetan parliament-in-exile speaker Penpa Tsering said, "Hu Jintao is responsible for loss of two more lives since he came to India. The question is how many more Tibetan lives have to be lost before the issue of Tibet is resolved."
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