A Tibetan man and his child bow before a portrait of the Dalai Lama during celebrations marking the Tibetan spiritual leader's 91st birthday in Kathmandu, Nepal, Monday, July 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
LEH, India (AP) — The Dalai Lama attended celebrations Monday marking his 91st birthday in Leh, India, as devotees gathered for prayers and celebrations across India and Nepal.
Revered by millions of Tibetan Buddhists as a divine figure, the Dalai Lama has spent decades promoting peace, nonviolence and compassion while advocating for greater autonomy for Tibet. After fleeing Tibet in 1959, he established the Tibetan government-in-exile in the northern Indian town of Dharamshala, where he continues to live. China considers him a separatist.
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This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
Ladakhi artistes in a traditional costume wait to perform during the birthday celebrations of Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, in Leh, India, Monday, July 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Tenzin Choejor)Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama greets devotees from inside a vehicle as he leaves after attending his birthday celebrations in Leh, India, Monday, July 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Tenzin Choejor)Exiled Tibetan children stand in front of a fan to cool off after performing during celebrations marking the birthday of Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama at a Tibetan school in New Delhi, India, Monday, July 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)Tibetan men prepare to perform dancing at a cultural show during the 91st birthday celebration of spiritual leader the Dalai Lama in Kathmandu, Nepal, Monday, July 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama greets devotees during his birthday celebrations in Leh, India, Monday, July 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Tenzin Choejor)A Tibetan woman gets ready to perform at a cultural show during the 91st birthday celebration of spiritual leader the Dalai Lama in Kathmandu, Nepal, Monday, July 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)An exiled Tibetan cuts a large cake during the birthday celebrations of Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama at the Tsuglakhang temple in Dharamshala, India, Monday, July 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia)Tibetan women offer their prayers during the 91st birthday celebration of spiritual leader the Dalai Lama in Kathmandu, Nepal, Monday, July 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama greets devotees after attending his birthday celebrations in Leh, India, Monday, July 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Tenzin Choejor)Exiled Tibetans in a traditional costume play the bagpipes during the birthday celebrations of Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama at the Tsuglakhang temple in Dharamshala, India, Monday, July 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia)Prayer flags flutter in front of a banner depicting Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama in childhood, youth and the present day during celebrations marking his birthday, at a Tibetan school in New Delhi, India, Monday, July 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)A Tibetan woman sobs while she offers prayers during the 91st birthday celebration of spiritual leader the Dalai Lama in Kathmandu, Nepal, Monday, July 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)A Tibetan monk watches the cultural show, unseen, during the 91st birthday celebration of spiritual leader the Dalai Lama in Kathmandu, Nepal, Monday, July 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)A Tibetan man gets ready to perform at a cultural show during the 91st birthday celebration of spiritual leader the Dalai Lama in Kathmandu, Nepal, Monday, July 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)The shadows of Tibetan children are cast on a curtain as they wait to perform in a cultural program celebrating the 91st birthday of the Dalai Lama in Kathmandu, Nepal, Monday, July 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)A Tibetan woman offers prayers during the 91st birthday celebration of spiritual leader the Dalai Lama in Kathmandu, Nepal, Monday, July 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)Exiled Tibetan women wearing traditional dress pose for photographs before their performance during celebrations marking the birthday of Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama at a Tibetan school in New Delhi, India, Monday, July 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
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A woman holds a fan in front of a bottle-fed baby at the Great American State Fair, during an extreme heat wave, Friday, July 3, 2026, on the National Mall in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
