Tibetans and tourists view a huge Tangka, a religious silk embroidery or painting unique to Tibet, during the Shoton Festival at Drepung Monastery on the outskirts of Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region August 20, 2009. [Photo: Chang Chuan/CFP]
The annual Shoton Festival, a highlight in Tibet's tourism calendar, kicked off in Lhasa, capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region, on Thursday.
Dozens of lamas signaled the start of the seven-day festival with the unveiling of a giant tangka, or religious painting, displaying the image of Sakyamuni, the founder of Buddhism, at Lhasa's Drepung Monastery in the morning.
Hundreds of Buddhists and tourists swarmed the monastery to watch the tangka ceremony. Many visitors even stood on a hillside opposite the temple for a distant view.
In Tibetan, "shoton" means "sour milk drinking." The traditional Tibetan festival can be traced back to the 11th century.
Besides Tangkas on display, Tibetan operas and garden parties, this year's celebrations will also include a beer festival, horse racing, a marathon and trade fairs.
Meanwhile, the mascots for the 2009 Shoton festival and the World Expo Shanghai will be exchanged during the festival.
Gyangkar, director of the Lhasa tourism bureau, said, "August is the most beautiful season in Lhasa. We will seize the opportunity of Shoton Festival to promote tourism in Tibet."
He predicted the number of tourists this year would be close to 2007's number, about three million, contributing 2.8 billion yuan to local tourism revenue.
The annual Shoton Festival kicked off in Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region's capital, on Thursday, August 20, 2009. [Photo: Jia Changfei/CFP]
Performances were staged on Thursday, August 20, 2009 in Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region's capital to kick off the annual Shoton Festival. [Photo: Jia Changfei/CFP]
A giant tangka, displaying the image of Sakyamuni, the founder of Buddhism, was unveiled in Drepung Monastery in Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region's capital, on Thursday morning, August 20, 2009. The week-long Shoton Festival kicked off in Lhasa on Thursday. [Photo: Jia Changfei/CFP]
Visitors and lamas participated in the unveiling of a giant tangka, displaying the image of Sakyamuni, the founder of Buddhism, in Drepung Monastery in Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region's capital, on Thursday morning, August 20, 2009. The week-long Shoton Festival kicked off in Lhasa on Thursday. [Photo: Xinhuanet]
A giant tangka, displaying the image of Sakyamuni, the founder of Buddhism, was unveiled in Drepung Monastery in Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region's capital, on Thursday morning, August 20, 2009. The week-long Shoton Festival kicked off in Lhasa on Thursday. [Photo: Jia Changfei/CFP]
Lamas and residents carry the giant tangka to be unveiled in Drepung Monastery in Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region's capital, on Thursday morning, August 20, 2009. The week-long Shoton Festival kicked off in Lhasa on Thursday. [Photo: Xinhuanet]
Lamas and residents carry the giant tangka to be unveiled in Drepung Monastery in Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region's capital, on Thursday morning, August 20, 2009. The week-long Shoton Festival kicked off in Lhasa on Thursday. [Photo: Xinhuanet]
