Tibet Shoton festival

PKG

INTRO

The traditional Shoton Festival has kicked off in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region.

PKG

With the "sunning of the Buddha" ceremony, the traditional Shoton Festival got underway in Lhasa, capital of Tibet Autonomous Region on Tuesday.

Early in the morning, hundreds arrived at the Drepung Monastery to attend the "sunning of the Buddha" ceremony, which marks the start of the annual Shoton festival.

SOUNDBITE(CHINESE): HUA LUO, Believer from Qinghai Province

"We come from Qinghai Province to watch the 'sunning of the Buddha'. I hope that all the ethnic groups can unite, our society be harmonious, and families be happy."

The "Sunning of the Buddha" ceremony is the most important event of the Shoton Festival.

During the ceremony, a huge Thangka, or painting scroll, bearing the image of the Buddha, is slowly unveiled on a hill close to Drepung Monastery, where hundreds of worshipers pay homage to it.

The ceremony at Drepung Monastery, on the outskirts of Lhasa, is the biggest celebration of its kind.

This year's Shoton Festival lasts for 7 days from Aug.6 to Aug.12.

Shoton means yogurt banquet in the Tibetan language.

The Shoton Festival dates back to the 11th century and was originally a religious occasion, when local people offered yogurt to monks who had finished a month-long retreat within their monasteries.

The festival consists of 3 parts - the Great Buddha Disply, Tibetan Opera Show and Horsemanship & Yak Race Show.

It is now considered one of the most important festivals in the Tibetan calendar.

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