Dhaka, July 6 -- The Dalai Lama, spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism and a global symbol of Tibet's struggle for cultural identity and autonomy, turned 90 on Sunday, marking the occasion with thousands of followers in the Indian Himalayan town of Dharamshala, where he has lived in exile since fleeing Chinese rule in 1959.

Addressing a packed temple courtyard despite persistent rain, the Dalai Lama reflected on his life's journey, saying, "When I look back on my life, I see that I have not wasted it at all. I live my life in the service of other sentient beings."

Wearing his traditional Buddhist robe and a flowing yellow wrap, the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, was escorted by monks as Tibetan artists played drums, bagpipes, and cymbal...