Dalai Lama likely to name spiritual successor during 90th birthday celebrations in July this year, says Central Tibetan Administration leader

The Dalai Lama

Penpa Tsering, who is the elected leader of the Central Tibetan Administartion (CTA), has confirmed that massive preparations are going on for the Dalai Lama's 90th birthday celebrations, which will be held in July this year.

Tsering said that there could be an announcement of the Dalai Lama's successor during the event in July.

Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, had said that in a statement in September 11, that he would take a decision in relation to the successor when he is "about 90". He had said that such a decision would be made after consulting other Tibetan Buddhist leaders and the Tibetan public.

The Dalai Lama had, in his book, announced that the successor would be born outside of China. This announcement had triggered a massive response as it challenged Beijing's control over the spiritual leadership.

"Since the purpose of a reincarnation is to carry on the work of the predecessor, the new Dalai Lama will be born in the free world so that the traditional mission of the Dalai Lama – that is, to be the voice for universal compassion, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, and the symbol of Tibet embodying the aspirations of the Tibetan people – will continue," the Dalai Lama had written in his book.

Meanwhile, Beijing had rejected the Dalai Lama's statements and said that it alone has the power to determine the successor of the spiritual leader.