Shimla, Sep 14 (IANS) A 10-year-old boy from Ladakh, believed to be the reincarnation of Buddhist monk Kachen Dugyal, was given a ceremonial reception Wednesday at Key monastery of Spiti Valley close to the China border, a spiritual head said.

Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama has recognised and blessed the boy, said to be the reincarnation of Dugyal, who died 11 years ago at the age of 98.

Dugyal had spent most of his time at the Key monastery, a religious training centre for the lamas.

"Rinchen Namgyal was given a ceremonial welcome by hundreds as per Buddhist tradition," Key monastery's spiritual head T.K. Lochan Tulku Rinpoche told IANS.

Thousands of devotees from far-flung areas gathered at the Key monastery, 10 km from Kaza town in the Spiti Valley, to seek his blessings and participated in the celebrations.

Rinchen Namgyal was born in Choglamsar village of Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir and is the only son of Chhawang Nurbu and Yangchen Dolma. He came to the monastery last week.

Rinchen's father said his son was studying in a local school.

"It's sad that our son will now stay only in the monastery, but we are happy that he's the reincarnation of a revered lama," he said.

The entire Spiti Valley in Lahaul and Spiti district, close to the China border, is populated mainly by Buddhists.

The picturesque Spiti Valley, some 350 km from here, is dotted with ancient Buddhist monasteries. Mane, Dhankar, Tabo, Gungri, Mud, Lidang, Rangrik, Key, Losar and Hikkim are the prominent monasteries in the area.