Dharamsala, Mar 7 : Tibetan exiles on Saturday began a five-day long prayer session to pray for the long life of their spiritual leader the Dalai Lama.

A religious association organised prayer session at Chamunda Temple with Hindu customs and rituals.

Several Buddhist monks and Tibetan exiles attended the praying session.

"After the long fifty years experiences, we are struggling at the moment for the support and understanding of the Tibetan movement. Only Indian bodies understood and supported us for a long time," said Acharya Yeshi Phungchok, member of Tibetan parliament-in-exile.

About 20 Hindu priests from Andhra Pradesh joined to offer prayers at the seat of Tibetan government in exile.

In November, the Dalai Lama had put an end to speculation about his retirement, and said he would not retire.

He also said he was losing faith in the Chinese government's desire to resolve the issue of Tibet's autonomy. (ANI)