Dalai Lama to give Tuesday's IPL match in Dharamasala a miss

Dharamsala: Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama will give the Indian Premier League (IPL) match between Kings XI Punjab and Royal Challengers Bangalore a miss in the picturesque Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) stadium here, his aide said here Monday.

'His Holiness Dalai Lama will not be present for Tuesday's match as he has just arrived at Dharamsala following a fortnight-long hectic visit of the US and Japan,' Tenzin Taklha, joint secretary at the Dalai Lama's office, told IANS.

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'He is very tired. Moreover, he calls it a day at around 3.30 p.m.' he added.

The HPCA had specially extended an invitation to the spiritual leader to be the chief guest for the day and night match.

In the previous IPL edition, the Nobel Peace Prize winner was the centre of attraction during the day-and-night match between Kings XI Punjab and Chennai Super Kings here.

Dressed in a traditional maroon robe, the Dalai Lama had spent around an hour watching the Kings XI innings.

Before the match began, he presented the players of both teams 'khada', a traditional white scarf given by the Tibetans in honour.

Some of the players, especially Indians, sought his blessings. Accompanied by Preity Zinta, co-owner of Kings XI Punjab, and HPCA president Anurag Thakur, the Dalai Lama enjoyed the game and met dignitaries and guests.

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He also obliged some of the spectators by allowing them to get themselves photographed with him.

Dorjee Norbu, a Tibetan cricket fan who got blessings from the Dalai Lama during the last IPL, said: 'It's a great disappointment. We have missed an opportunity to have the public appearance of His Holiness.'

This hill town is the abode-in-exile of the Dalai Lama.