A large contingent of officials, cultural troupes and media delegations from Mongolia and the three Russian republics will attend the festival that starts Sunday, a spokesperson of the Tibetan government-in-exile said here Thursday.

The festival will kick off with a Mongolian and Russian Buddhist art exhibition at the Tibet Museum here.

Telo Rinpoche, spiritual head of the Buddhists in Kalmykia, said: 'We the Buddhists of Mongolia and Russian Buddhists are offering a long life prayer to his holiness (the Dalai Lama) on Nov 10 when the festival concludes.'

'His holiness has become very popular all around the world, particularly after receiving the US Congressional gold medal, and presidents and prime ministers of many states and governments are meeting him in public.'