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.
On April 14, 2007, amidst thousands of faithful followers of the great Indian patriarch Dr. B.R. Babasaheb Ambedkar, father of both the Dalit Buddhist movement as well as the Indian Constitution, His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje performed prayers and a pithy speech to the masses as the Chief guest during the 116th birthday celebration in Mhow, the birthplace of Dr. Ambedkar.
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.
In the late afternoon of Wednesday, 7th March 2007, the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje, arriving from his residence in Kalimpong, was given a hearty welcome at the Karmapa International Buddhist Institute, New Delhi. He was received by a cheerful crowd of disciples from all over the world. Devotees from more than 20 different countries had gathered at the institute to attend a weeklong course on the Bodhisattvas’ way of life held by the Gyalwa Karmapa. Just prior to His Holiness’ arrival, Kunzig Shamar Rinpoche graced both visitors and students with a public lecture on Mahamudra in the assembly hall.
On the 9th of February 2007 His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje and the students at Shri Diwakar Vihara Institute for Buddhist Research began the annual Mahakala puja that precedes the celebrations for Losar. The week long puja was joined by numerous monks and nuns from various places as well as many other participants from all corners of the world.
