The Tibetan Government in exile on friday expressed sadness on the self-immolation by 12 monks and nuns in eastern Tibet and said that it will hold special prayers for them in Bodhgaya next month.

"His Holiness the Dalai Lama will lead the special prayers at Bodhgaya next month for the victims who gave their life in Tibet," a statement issued by the government said.

The statement came on the 22nd anniversary of Nobel Peace Prize awarded to the Dalai Lama.

"His Holiness the Dalai Lama has guided the Tibetan struggle for justice onto the path of non-violence, making it different from other national struggles in the world. He has also shown, both in principle and in practice, that all global conflicts can be solved through a non-violent approach," the statement read.

Eleven Buddhist monks and nuns have committed self immolations in recent months in Sichuan province, neighbouring Tibet, purportedly to protest against "repressive policies" of the Chinese government in Tibet, and calling for the return of the Dalai Lama.