Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala), Nov.24 (ANI): Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama is in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, to inaugurate an annual pilgrimage.

Dalai Lama, who is on a five-day visit to the state, will address at the inauguration of annual pilgrimage festival at the Sivagiri Math in Varkala.

The Dalai Lama was accompanied by his followers.

Security has been tight around the Tibetan spiritual leader.

Recently Dalai Lama had pressed China to investigate the dozens of self-immolations by Tibetans.

The United Nations' most senior human rights official called on China to address frustrations that have led to Tibetans' desperate protests, including some 60 self-immolations since March 2011.

He made no direct comment on the self-immolations or on the recent United Nations report that urged China to address deep-rooted frustrations that have led to such desperate forms of protest by Tibetans.

Tensions over Tibet are at their highest in years after a spate of protests over Chinese rule and self-immolations by Tibetan activists, which have prompted a Chinese security crackdown.

The surge in self-immolations in China in protest over its rule in Tibet has heightened tension in recent months.

Indian-based rights groups said there had been a massive security clampdown in Tibet and Tibetan areas of China, and in some instances protesters were beaten even as they were ablaze.

The Dalai Lama, who fled to India in 1959 following a failed uprising, has accused China of "cultural genocide".

Beijing has branded the Dalai Lama a separatist and accused him of inciting protests against Chinese rule in Tibet, including more than 60 self-immolations in and around the region since March 2011. Beijing denounces the self-immolations as acts by terrorists and criminals.

The Dalai Lama denies he is a separatist and says he only wants meaningful autonomy for his Himalayan region. (ANI)