Special 49th day Prayer Vigil And Solidarity Head Shave Held in Minnesota By Sangay Taythi (RTYC-Minnesota) Published: April 29, 2008
St Paul, MN, April 28, 2008: The main hall of the Tibetan American Foundation of Minnesota found itself filled with several hundred Minnesota Tibetans and supporters today. The crowd sat on the floor of the hall facing a throne with a picture of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and a table filled with butter lamps and another with ‘tsogs’ (collective food offering). They were there to join Tibetans all over the world to observe the 49th day (Shigu) Prayer Vigil for more than 150 Tibetans who have lost their lives inside Tibet as a result of the Chinese Government's recent violent crackdown against peaceful protestors. Tibetans consider the 49th day of passing of being to be important and observe the day with special prayers for auspicious rebirth. The prayer service was led by monks from the Gyuto Dharma Center from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm.
At around 6:30 pm, the crowd took a break and headed outside to the parking lot where the solidarity head shave was to begin. The ‘Minnesota Tibetan Solidarity Head Shave’ event began with speeches delivered by Kalsang Phuntsok and Sangay Taythi of the Regional Tibetan Youth Congress chapter of Minnesota and by the president of the Tibetan American Foundation of Minnesota, Thinley Woser.
More than 50 people, men and women, young and old, Tibetans and non-Tibetans participated to shave their heads to mourn the lives of over 150 Tibetans that have recently been killed and to show support to thousands that have forcibly been taken into custody and to all Tibetans that live under China’s brutal regime. The head shaving event was also held to show respect for all the monks and nuns who led countless peaceful campaigns against the Chinese rule in Tibet.
Soon after the solidarity head shaving event kicked off, the prayer service resumed in the main hall as the solidarity head shaving event continued outside. Bread and tea were served and ‘tsogs’ distributed to the attendees and the prayer service then came to an end at around 8:00pm.
St Paul, MN, April 28, 2008: The main hall of the Tibetan American Foundation of Minnesota found itself filled with several hundred Minnesota Tibetans and supporters today. The crowd sat on the floor of the hall facing a throne with a picture of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and a table filled with butter lamps and another with ‘tsogs’ (collective food offering). 
They were there to join Tibetans all over the world to observe the 49th day (Shigu) Prayer Vigil for more than 150 Tibetans who have lost their lives inside Tibet as a result of the Chinese Government's recent violent crackdown against peaceful protestors. Tibetans consider the 49th day of passing of being to be important and observe the day with special prayers for auspicious rebirth. The prayer service was led by monks from the Gyuto Dharma Center from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. 
More than 50 people, men and women, young and old, Tibetans and non-Tibetans participated to shave their heads to mourn the lives of over 150 Tibetans that have recently been killed and to show support to thousands that have forcibly been taken into custody and to all Tibetans that live under China’s brutal regime. The head shaving event was also held to show respect for all the monks and nuns who led countless peaceful campaigns against the Chinese rule in Tibet.