Thousands of lamas, students, and locals came to Tawang for a candlelight march in support of the victims of the devastating earthquake in Tibet. At least 126 people had been killed and over 100 injured in the January 7 earthquake, which also caused tremors in Nepal, Bhutan, and some areas of northern India. Namgey Tsering, the Tawang MLA who organized the march, stated that he wished to honor the victims and raise awareness of the tragedy. Together with the abbot of Galden Namgyal Lhatse monastery, Shedling Tulku Thupten Tendar Rinpche, Tsering visited the families of the deceased to offer their condolences and to pray for the healing of the wounded and the rehabilitation of the impacted.
The procession began at the Tawang Monastery and finished at Masang Dungyur Mani, which is located in the Old Market district. It was held in the evening by candlelight. Public leaders, government officials, members of numerous local organizations such as MMT, AMSU, ATDSU, and the Taxi Association, as well as bazaar secretaries and representatives from all three Tawang marketplaces, participated in the processions, as did monks from several monasteries. A moving testament to the community’s generosity and camaraderie in the face of tragedy, it brought people together to mourn the loss and offer support to those affected by the earthquake.
