Thousands Gather for Funeral of Tibetan Activist Thousands of emotional Tibetan exiles are gathered in northern India for the funeral of a man who set himself on fire ahead of a visit by China's president. Friday's ceremony began with the Tibetan national anthem followed by prayers. Jamphel Yeshi's body was then taken to a crematorium where traditional Tibetan Buddhist rites were performed. The 27-year-old set himself on fire on Monday and succumbed to his wounds on Wednesday. About 30 self-immolations have occurred over the past year in ethnic Tibetan areas of China in protest of Beijing's heavy-handed rule in the region. Yeshi's funeral was being held in the Indian hill town of Dharmsala, the exiled Tibetan community's headquarters.