Modi invite to PM-in-exile thrills Tibetans

"Wow it's great honour to our Sikyong and Tibetan government in exile Jai Tibet, Jai Hind," said Pema Cescten.

Tashi Stobgyas wrote: "Thank you India for your respect towards Tibet."

"Yes, for a very short fleeting moment I saw someone like our Sikyong among the guests, but the clip was not repeated. So I was not sure. Now I am convinced," said Dawa Dhargye.

Sangay took over the reins of the exile government in August 2011 from 74-year-old monk scholar Samdhong Rinpoche, who held the post for the past 10 years.

With the Dalai Lama stepping down from diplomacy and active politics, the elected leader of Tibetan people has acquired added stature.

The Dalai Lama, a Nobel laureate, has lived in India since 1959 when he fled his homeland after a failed uprising against the Communist rule. The Tibetan government-in-exile is based here but is not recognised by any country, including India.