Gangtok, June 25: Festivities on a grand scale have been planned to celebrate the birthday of the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, Orgyen Trinley Dorje, who turns 19 tomorrow.

Going by the Buddhist lunar calendar, the age of the Karmapa, the head of the Kagyupa sect of Buddhism, who is considered the highest Buddhist spiritual leader after the Dalai Lama, will be 20.

Followers and monks of two monasteries in Sikkim and other branches of the Dharma Chakra centres across the globe will offer prayers for his long life and swift return to his seat, at Rumtek.

Festivities, including Chaams (masked dances), are being organised in Rumtek monastery and Palchen Choeling monastery in Ralang, south Sikkim. The puja at Rumtek will be performed by the Tsurphu Labrang (administrative body of the monastery) and the JAC. Gyaltshab Rimpoche, one of the regents of Rumtek, will lead the celebrations at Ralang.

Karma Chungyalpa, the spokesperson for the Joint Action Committee of Buddhist Organisations, which demands the return of the Karmapa to Sikkim, told The Telegraph: “We have made numerous appeals to the government of India to allow the Karmapa to come to Rumtek. We will pursue the matter with the new government at the Centre as the atmosphere is conducive with China formally recognising Sikkim as an integral part of India. We are hopeful of a positive response.”

The Karmapa is camped at Gyuto Ramoche monastery in Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh, where he has stayed ever since he reached India on January 5, 2000.

The Karmapa had trekked from Tsurphu monastery in Tibet through the rugged mountains for 11 days, evading Chinese soldiers to enter India and stake his claim in Rumtek as the head of the Kagyupa sect.

Diplomacy, legal battles and two more claimants to the throne have, however, dogged him in his mission.

Born in Bakor village in Lhator district of Kham province in Tibet, the Karmapa was recognised as the next head of the Kagyu order by the 16th Karmapa Rigpe Dorje through a secret prediction letter.