Dharamsala/Shimla, Mar 13: Tibetan people living-in-exile staged a candlelight vigil in Dharamsala to mark 50 years of their movement.

A large numbers of monks, nuns including foreigners took part in the march, vowing to continue the fight for a free Tibet and return to their homeland.

Prayers were also offered for Tibetans who laid down their lives for the cause of freedom.

Women of the Regional Tibetan Women''s Association (RTWA) marked 2009 as the ''International Year of Tibetan Women.''

"This candlelight vigil is to honour all the Tibetan women who died for Tibetan freedom and to safeguard the future generation''s freedom," said Palkey, a member of the RTWA.

Meanwhile, hundreds of Tibetan women-in-exile participated in a peace march in Shimla. Later, they staged a candlelight vigil to mark the 50th anniversary of Tibetan National Women''s Uprising.

"Our women inside Tibet sacrificed a lot during the national uprising 50 years back. In their memory, we are holding a candlelight march. We are also thankful to the Indian Government for providing us asylum and giving us love and for allowing a peaceful march," said Passang, president of RTWA, Shimla.

On March 10, 1959, Chinese authorities quashed an uprising led by the Dalai Lama, which forced him and many Buddhist men and women to flee Tibet.

The Dalai Lama marked his 50 years in exile on Tuesday by demanding "meaningful autonomy" for his Tibetan homeland, where Chinese authorities tightened security to stifle protests against their rule.

Tibetans across the globe are marking this week with anti-China protests, demonstrations, photo exhibitions and book launches to look back at 50 years of their failed uprising and ponder over the future course of action. (ANI)