Thousands of people gathered in India’s Dharamshala on Sunday to celebrate the 90th birthday of the Dalai Lama – a key milestone in the life of the spiritual leader and Nobel Peace laureate known for his message of compassion and his quest for greater freedoms for Tibet under Beijing’s rule.

The Dalai Lama said Saturday he dreamed of living for decades more, as the Buddhist spiritual leader prayed with thousands of exiled Tibetans on the eve of his 90th birthday. - 'Struggle' - The birthday celebrations have also been a time for reflection on an inevitable future without the Dalai Lama.

Celebrations are taking place in McLeodganj on Sunday as the Tibetan community marks the Dalai Lama’s birth anniversary. The events include a religious conference, a youth forum, a film screening, and prayers for the Tibetan spiritual leader’s long life.