Dharamshala, Oct. 21 -- Marking a significant milestone in women's empowerment within Tibetan monastic traditions, 33 Tibetan Buddhist nuns were conferred the prestigious Geshema degree, equivalent to a doctorate in Buddhist philosophy, during a ceremony held in Dharamshala.

The ceremony for the ninth batch of Geshema graduates was attended by eminent Tibetan lama Ling Rinpoche as the chief guest. Ahead of the event, the graduating nuns had also sought audiences and blessings from Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama.

Historically, advanced monastic education was restricted to male monks. The conferral of the Geshema degree to women represents a decades-long effort to bridge the gender divide in Tibetan monasticism, equipping female...