Tibetan pilgrims and monks brave blizzard for unveiling of Buddhist scroll

Record ID: 1395937

  • Title: Tibetan pilgrims and monks brave blizzard for unveiling of Buddhist scroll
  • Date: 18th February 2019
  • Summary: LANGMUSI TOWNSHIP, GANNAN TIBETAN AUTONOMOUS PREFECTURE, GANSU PROVINCE, CHINA (FEBRUARY 17, 2019) (REUTERS) MONKS PLAYING HORNS AND CARRYING THANGKA SCROLL VARIOUS OF MONKS CARRYING THANGKA SCROLL MONK PLAYING CYMBALS MONKS CARRYING SCROLL UP LEDGE MONKS IN COSTUME WALKING BY MONKS GATHERED ON CONCRETE LEDGE FOR THANGKA UNVEILING CEREMONY MONKS PREPARING TO DROP THANGKA SCROLL MONKS LOOKING ON THANGKA SCROLL BEING DROPPED BODHISATTVA IMAGE ON THANGKA BENEATH DRAPES THREE MONKS PULLING ON DRAPES TIBETAN PILGRIMS LOOKING ON VARIOUS OF DRAPE BEING LIFTED FROM THANGKA AND UNVEILING BODHISATTVA MONK/TIBETAN PILGRIMS LINING UP TIBETAN PILGRIMS PRAYING AT FOOT OF THANGKA MONKS SEATED AROUND THANGKA MONKS LOOKING ON BEIJING, CHINA (FEBRUARY 18, 2019) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF SENIOR RESEARCH FELLOW AT CHINA TIBETOLOGY RESEARCH CENTER, YE XINGSHENG, APPLYING COLOUR TO 'REPAIR' AN ANCIENT THANGKA IN HIS STUDIO (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) SENIOR RESEARCH FELLOW AT CHINA TIBETOLOGY RESEARCH CENTER, YE XINGSHENG, SAYING: "The unveiling (of the Thangka) is firstly to make the light of the Buddha illuminate all things, and disseminate Buddha’s energy, enable people to connect with heaven. Secondly it is to let all mortal beings worship, nurture and burn incense for the Buddha." VARIOUS OF YE WORKING ON AN ANCIENT THANGKA (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) SENIOR RESEARCH FELLOW AT CHINA TIBETOLOGY RESEARCH CENTER, YE XINGSHENG, SAYING: "I hope that this unique form of exhibition, which shows Buddhist culture, which doesn't exist anywhere else in China or indeed the world, can lead to more attention, and more people attaching a greater importance to Tibet, a greater respect and awareness towards the diligence and creativity of Tibetans." LANGMUSI TOWNSHIP, GANNAN TIBETAN AUTONOMOUS PREFECTURE, GANSU PROVINCE, CHINA (FEBRUARY 17, 2019) (REUTERS) MONKS SEATED/PILGRIMS GATHERED PILGRIMS PROSTRATING AT FOOT OF THANGKA TIBETAN WOMEN WITH CHILDREN WALKING IN LINE MONKS SEATED ON HILLTOP DRAPE BEING HUNG OVER THANGKA/FESTIVAL IN PROGRESS TIMELAPSE OF MONKS CARRYING THANGKA SCROLL AFTER THANGKA UNVEILING CEREMONY BEIJING, CHINA (FEBRUARY 18, 2019) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) SENIOR RESEARCH FELLOW AT CHINA TIBETOLOGY RESEARCH CENTER, YE XINGSHENG, SAYING: "When Thangkas at different monasteries are unveiled it brings good luck to all Buddhists. But its wish is to help all mortal beings to realise their wishes." LANGMUSI TOWNSHIP, GANNAN TIBETAN AUTONOMOUS PREFECTURE, GANSU PROVINCE, CHINA (FEBRUARY 17, 2019) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF TIBETAN PILGRIMS ON HILLSIDE WALKING NEXT TO SMALL SHRINE TIBETAN PILGRIMS WALKING TOWARDS PRAYER WHEELS ON HILLTOP NEXT TO SERTRI MONASTERY TIBETAN PILGRIMS TOUCHING PRAYER WHEELS MONKS WALKING UP HILL SIDE MONK WALKING TOWARDS MAIN HALL OF SERTRI MONASTERY
  • Embargoed: 4th March 2019 11:57
  • Keywords: Tibet monks festival Thangka blizzard
  • Location: LANGMUSI TOWNSHIP, GANSU PROVINCE, BEIJING, CHINA
  • City: LANGMUSI TOWNSHIP, GANSU PROVINCE, BEIJING, CHINA
  • Country: China
  • Topics: Religion/Belief,Society/Social Issues,Editors' Choice
  • Reuters ID: LVA001A23WQBP
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Hundreds of Tibetan monks and pilgrims attended the unveiling of a massive thangka, a Buddhist scroll, in Sertri Monastery of northwest China's Gansu province on Sunday (February 17).
    According to tradition, the practice, roughly translated as the "sunbathing Buddha festival," begins at dawn when a few of the monastery's novice monks carry the sacred thangka to a hilltop.
    Followers believe that the scroll unveiling, where the early rays of sunlight shine upon the thangka, is a blessing for the year ahead, monks at Sertri said.
    The event is part of the Monlam Prayer Festival, a week of rituals held in the first month of the Tibetan New Year aimed at promoting enlightenment.
    After the unveiling of the thangka, Tibetan pilgrims, braving heavy snow, lined up for a chance to touch and pray before the sacred thangka.
    Although the practice was once banned during the Cultural Revolution, the festival now draws tourists to Sertri Monastery from across China.
    (Production: Joseph Campbell, Martin Pollard)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2019. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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