(30 Nov 2011) SHOTLIST
1. Wide of Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama arriving at Gandhi memorial for prayer session, greeting monks
2. Low angle shot of Buddhist monk with hands folded
3. Close of Dalai Lama praying
4. Wide of Dalai Lama praying
5. Mid of monk praying
6. Various of monks beating drums
7. Wide of prayer session
8. Mid of leaders from different religions
9. Wide of woman paying respects to Dalai Lama
10. Wide of Dalai Lama greeting other religious leaders
11. Mid of Karmapa, Tibetan Buddhism's third-ranking leader (left)
12. Wide of Dalai Lama planting sapling at Nehru park
13. Wide of people watching
14. Various of Dalai Lama planting sapling
STORYLINE
The Dalai Lama, Tibet's spiritual leader, went ahead on Wednesday with his scheduled participation in a global Buddhist gathering despite local media reports that Beijing pushed to prevent him from addressing the congregation.
The Dalai Lama led a multi-faith prayer session at the Gandhi memorial and planted saplings at New Delhi's Nehru Park on the final day of the Global Buddhist Congregation.
He was due to address the concluding session of the three-day conference later on Wednesday.
Indian newspapers had reported that India had postponed talks with China on a border dispute because of a demand by Beijing that India stop the Dalai Lama from speaking the Buddhist conference.
The Hindustan Times said the Indian side is believed to have told China that the congregation is religious and cannot be cancelled.
No Indian government officials or political leaders attended the conference.
The Global Buddhist Congregation, the first ever gathering of more than 900 scholars, leaders and activists from all Buddhist traditions, is being held to mark the 2600th year of the enlightenment of Buddha.
A representative of the Dalai Lama asked China on Sunday not to politicise the religious congregation .
Beijing apparently fears that the conference, which has the support of India's External affairs Ministry, could be used by Tibetans as a platform for criticising Chinese rule over Tibet.
China regularly objects to any contacts between other governments and the Dalai Lama and accuses him of being a separatist.
The Dalai Lama insists he is only seeking increased autonomy for Tibet.
At least 11 monks, nuns, and former monks have set themselves on fire in China this year in what is seen as acts of desperation in the face of tightening Chinese control over Tibetan life and Buddhist culture.
China accuses supporters of the Dalai Lama of encouraging the immolations.
The Dalai Lama and representatives of the self-declared Tibetan government-in-exile in India say they oppose all violence.
Representatives of India and China were expected to meet in Delhi this week for talks on the decades-old border dispute in the Himalayans.
The Indian and Chinese foreign ministries have not commented on the reports of a delay.
China insists Tibet has always been part of its territory, but many Tibetans say the Himalayan region was virtually independent for centuries.
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