By Tenzin Chokyi

DHARAMSALA, 20 August: The streets of Dharamsala turned into a sea of Tibetan flags on Thursday as thousands marched from the Dalai Lama Temple to the Kachari Police Ground. The event became one of the largest public rallies for a Free Tibet seen in the exile capital in recent years.

Chanting slogans for independence and a free Tibet, the crowd carried the message of Pawo (Martyr) Lobga Rangzen through the town, less than seven weeks after he set himself on fire outside the United Nations headquarters in New York on 2 July.

The rally followed a 49th-day prayer service at the temple, marking the final stage of consciousness’ transition to its next life in Tibetan Buddhist tradition. What began as a solemn religious observance quickly turned political as the crowd moved out of the temple gates and marched toward Kachari.

In a final video message, Lobga Rangzen—a prominent i...