On March 31, 2026, the Tibetan Youth Congress officially launched the Black Hat March on a historically significant day—commemorating the moment when His Holiness The Great 14th Dalai Lama, cabinet members, and thousands of Tibetans, were forced into exile and stepped onto foreign soil as a refugee because of military and illegal occupation of Tibet by the so-called Chinese government.
The opening ceremony was held at Lhagyal-ri, beside the residence of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The setting carried profound symbolism: on one side stood the residence of His Holiness, representing the living spirit and resilience of Tibet, while on the other side were displayed photographs of Tibetan martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the Tibetan cause.
The ceremony was graced by distinguished guests, including Chief Guest Mrs. Gyari Dolma, Kalon (Minister) of the Department of Security; Mr. Shashwat Kapoor, General Secretary of the BJP Yuva Morcha; Mr. Ajit Nehria, President of the Indo-Tibetan Association; Member of the Tibetan Parliament and former Tibetan Youth Congress President Mr. Tenzing Jigme; Member of Parliament Lhagyari Namgyal Dolkar; Kungoe Topgyal la; former Tibetan Youth Congress Executive Mr. Penpa Tsering la; and Tibetan Settlement Officer Mr. Kunchok Migmar.
The ceremony began with the singing of the Tibetan and Indian national anthems, followed by a solemn moment of silence to honour and remember the Tibetan martyrs.
- Tibetan Youth Congress President, Mr. Tsering Chomphel, addressed the gathering and presented the objectives and key demands of the Black Hat March to the public.
- Chief Guest Mrs. Gyari Dolma remarked, “It is deeply moving to witness this march at such an important and symbolic location. This is the time for all Tibetans to unite and channel our collective strength more than ever.” She also offered traditional white scarves (khatas) to all the marchers as a gesture of blessing and goodwill.
- Mr. Shashwat Kapoor and Mr. Ajit Nehria offered heartfelt encouragement and meaningful recognition of our ongoing struggle for Tibet. They expressed their solidarity which not only uplifted our spirits but also reaffirmed the strength and resilience of our movement.
Following the ceremony, Mrs. Gyari Dolma, Mr. Shashwat Kapoor, Mr. Ajit Nehria, Mr. Tenzing Jigme, and Mr. Kunchok Migmar jointly flagged off the march from Lhagyal-ri, marking the commencement of the first day of the Black Hat March.
Upon reaching Gangchen Kyishong, the marchers were received by Honorable Penpa Tsering, Sikyong (President) of the Central Tibetan Administration. He met with the participants, extended his best wishes, and formally flagged off the march from the Gangchen Kyishong gate.
Later in the evening, the marchers arrived at the College of Higher Tibetan Studies (CHTS), Sarah, where they were warmly welcomed by Principal Mr. Passang la and RTYC Sarah.
At the end of the day, the Tibetan Youth Congress President delivered an engaging talk to the students of Sarah, highlighting the significance of the Black Hat March and encouraging greater youth participation in the Tibetan movement. The session concluded with an interactive Q&A, fostering meaningful dialogue and reflection among the students.