The Dalai Lama, Tibetan spiritual leader, celebrates 88th birthday

By ASHWINI BHATIA
Associated Press

DHARMSALA, India (AP) — The Dalai Lama has celebrated his 88th birthday among hundreds of supporters and exiled Tibetans at his hillside headquarters in India. Artists played traditional welcome tunes Thursday as the Tibetan spiritual leader arrived at the celebrations at Tsuglakhang Temple. He was smiling when he said: “We are celebrating my 88th birthday but look at me, I look barely 50.” U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken offered warm birthday wishes in a statement from his office. The Dalai Lama has made the hillside town of Dharmsala his home since fleeing from Tibet after a failed uprising against Chinese rule in 1959.