Tibetan Buddhist monks in Shimla performed traditional Cham (Lama Dance) to celebrate the birthday of the Guru Padmasambhava. Scores of monks assembled at Dorjeedak Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Panthaghati near Shimla. Through these rituals, Buddhist monks paid offerings for compassion and world peace. Before the dance performance, the monks and other Tibetan offered prayers for Guru Padmasambhava. The Buddhist monks through Lama Dance enacted the drama of the arrival of the 8 reincarnations of Lord Padmasambhava and welcomed the lord here. This dance is performed with traditional Tibetan musical instruments and monks wear masks and traditional hats and caps. The Buddhist monks here believe that this is performed to pay respect to guru Padmasambhava. The day of the dance performance is celebrated as his birthday. All Buddhist monks pray for the long life of the Dalai Lama and also other high Lamas. Tibetan monks also offer prayers for world peace and perform dances to preserve their centuries-old tradition. "According to the lunar calendar of Tibet, the Birthday of the Guru Rinpoche (Guru Padmasambhava) is celebrated on the 10th day of the 4th month of the Tibetan calendar.  All these Lamas and monks are doing the ritual dance for the offering. We are practising the preaching of the Guru Padmasambhava. We are reminding his teachings and performing rituals and preaching is important for world peace," said Shedup Mipham, a Tibetan Buddhist monk and secretary at Dorjeedak Tibetan Buddhist Monastery. People from the Tibetan community gathered here also to see the rich traditional dances of the Buddhist monks. The local residents of the Tibetan Buddhist community in exile here are pleased to take part in the Buddhist chanting. The local residents of the Tibetan Community here believe that the preaching of the Guru is important in propagating Buddhism and the message of compassion and peace.

Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Guru of the Sikhs, sacrificed his life for the welfare of people on November 24, 1675. It is on this day when he was beheaded by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. Every year on November 24, Sikhs celebrate Shaheedi Divas to remember Guru Tegh Bahadur, and the day is observed as his Martyrdom Day. The Mughal ruler Aurangzeb wanted to convert all Indians into Muslims. He wanted everyone to either take up Islam or else be prepared for execution. After this announcement by Aurangzeb, a group of 500 Kashmiri Pandits led by Pandit Kripa Ram went to seek help from Guru Tegh Bahadur at Anandpur Sahib. On hearing the atrocities of Aurangzeb, Guru Gobind Rai, the son of Guru Tegh Bahadur, declared that it is only his father who can solve this problem. The ninth guru of Sikhs readily agreed to help the pandits. He asked them to inform the Mughal ruler that if he is able to convert his father, then all people would follow the suit. After Aurangzeb came to know about this, Guru Tegh Bahadur was summoned, but when he arrived, he was asked "to abandon his faith, and convert to Islam". Guru Tegh Bahadur refused, and he and his associates were arrested. Guru Tegh Bahadur was tortured for many weeks while being asked to abandon his faith and convert to Islam; he stood by his convictions and refused; he was then executed on 24 November 1675 in public in Chandni Chowk, Delhi. The associates of the Guru were also tortured for refusing to convert: Bhai Mati Das was sawn into pieces and Bhai Dayal Das was thrown into a cauldron of boiling water, and Bhai Sati Das was burned alive, while Guru Tegh Bahadur was held inside a cage to watch his colleagues suffer. India's President Ram Nath Kovind paid tribute to Guru Teg Bahadur on his Martyrdom Day. The President said that his sacrifice inspires all of us to unite for the true service of humanity. Kovind also said, Guru Tegh Bahadur's teachings and his work will continue to spread the spirit of love and patriotism among all of us. Source: Sheikh News