On the 6th of May, 2007, the students and faculty of the Shri Diwakar Vihara in Kalimpong held a puja and celebration in honor of the 24th birthday (Tibetan calendar 25th birthday) of His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje.

There was a mixture of holiday festivity as well as pomp and circumstance on the blessed occasion of His Holiness' birthday celebration. Many people from around the globe spanning several continents came to wish Karmapa a long life, making offerings and showing their respect. Among the guests were Sherab Gyaltsen Rinpoche, Khenpo Chodrag Tenphel Rinpoche, Gurung Rinpoche, The Ngang Ten Sang Chop TsogPa (The Buddhist Association of Sikkim), and the Trustees of the KCT (Karmapa Charitable Trust). Also the student body of The Dejong Pema Choeling Academy from Peling, Sikkim made a special journey to entertain Karmapa with some wonderful songs they had rehearsed for this event.

The morning began with the Sang Puja, which included a large smoke offering of cedar wood incense outside the Lhakang. Inside the Puja Hall, the crowd began to steadily swell as people arrived throughout the prayer service from Bhutan, Sikkim and many other locations beyond the small hill station of Kalimpong, West Bengal. Eventually, hundreds of people had gathered to pay their respects. There was simply no room to accommodate the masses in the Lhakang and the people seemed to spill out of the shedra as one by one came in to make prostrations in veneration to His Holiness.

Once the offerings of body, speech and mind were made, His Holiness sat patiently as the queue of devotees made their way with silk scarves ("kattaks") to receive blessings. After the puja, Karmapa was ushered to the garden of his estate in Kalimpong for the cake cutting and was presented with many gifts from the attendees. It was at this time that the children of The Dejong Pema Choeling Academy from Peling, Sikkim gave their musical performance for His Holiness. Afterwards, Karmapa thanked everyone and invited the multitudes to a special lunch that had been sponsored by supporters of His Holiness. There were scheduled performances of traditional Tibetan music and dancing but, unfortunately, due to the untimely passing of Venerable Sonam Palden, a very close friend to His Holiness and family, it was deemed inappropriate for such lavish celebrations.

Photos: Gerd Heidorn, Report: Derek Hanger

On April 2, 2007 His Holiness performed the Djang Chog puja of Amitabha for the passing of Hannah Nydahl. The prayer service was attended by many of the visiting guests from the West and the monks of Shri Diwakar Vihara. The same puja was repeated by all of the Sangha at the residence of Shamar Rinpoche in Sikkim, not far from where the seat of her late beloved teacher the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa Rangjung Rigpe Dorje is located in Rumtek.

His Holiness said, "After we knew that she was ill, we told everyone not to give up on her. Even though her illness was severe, I told people she would make it through this, with the hope that everyone's wishes would remain pure and optimistic." His Holiness said that he was very much wishing that there might be a miracle and she would in fact recover.

Karmapa asked people not to grieve but rather to "rejoice in her accomplishments and activities." He added that, "We should all dedicate our merit so that her wishes will come true." When asked what wishes he was referring to he said, "All of them. Her wishes in this life, for the sake of the Dharma, and those wishes she may be making posthumously."

The atmosphere during the puja was serene and tranquil. There was a sense of achievement in the air. Though there were some somber faces, the general tone of the event was one of respect and reverence for a person who was so well loved, both in her time and after, and who was truly an asset to the Dharma beyond expression of value and measure.