DHARAMSHALA (India), Oct 15 – Chinese authorities allegedly compelled thousands of Tibetans — including monks, nuns, and senior religious figures — to attend a Kalachakra empowerment led by Gyaltsen Norbu, the Beijing-appointed Panchen Lama, widely rejected by Tibetans as the “fake Panchen,” according to a report by Phayul.
The four-day religious event, held from October 9 to 12 at the Kyi-kyi Nakha site of Tashi Lhunpo Monastery in Shigatse, saw the attendance of prominent figures such as the 7th Gunthang Rinpoche, the Sakya abbot, and the Sera abbot. Local reports said participation was mandatory, with government officials closely monitoring compliance.
Witnesses described heavy security deployment, including police and military personnel stationed throughout the area. Officers disguised as medical workers reportedly supervised attendees, managing movement and crowd behaviour. The event, observers say, reflects the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) continuing campaign to promote state-aligned religious figures while eroding the Dalai Lama’s influence.
This is not the first time Gyaltsen Norbu’s events have drawn criticism. In 2016, a similar Kalachakra ceremony at Dechen Phodrang, near Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, was marred by reports of coerced attendance and financial inducements offered to Tibetans.
The latest event also coincides with Beijing’s wider crackdown on religious freedom in Tibet. The CCP has imposed restrictions on Tibetans travelling abroad to attend the Dalai Lama’s teachings, framing such activities as subversive.
Gyaltsen Norbu was handpicked by Beijing in 1995, after the legitimate 11th Panchen Lama, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, was recognised by the Dalai Lama and subsequently disappeared at age six. Nearly three decades later, his whereabouts remain unknown, despite China’s claims that he is “living a normal life.”
The CCP’s promotion of Gyaltsen Norbu, who has repeatedly expressed allegiance to the Party, is viewed by analysts as part of a broader strategy to control Tibetan Buddhism and shape the future succession of the Dalai Lama.