Tibet celebrates 600th anniversary of leading monastery's founding

LHASA, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- More than 10,000 believers have gathered at a leading monastery of Tibetan Buddhism near Lhasa in Tibet over the past three days to celebrate the 600th anniversary of the founding of the temple.

A range of activities have been held during the three-day celebrations to mark the anniversary of the Ganden Monastery, including a commemorative ceremony, Tibetan opera performances and Buddhist services.

Photo taken on Oct. 18, 2009 shows the panorama of the Ganden Monastery  in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. 　 (Xinhua Photo)

The Ganden Monastery was built in 1409 as the first temple of the Gelug Sect, also known as the Yellow Sect, of Tibetan Buddhism. Tsongkhapa was the founder of both the temple and the Gelug Sect.

To commemorate their founder, the Ganden monks staged a dramatic unfurling of a giant thangka -- a form of Tibetan painting art that dates back more than 1,000 years -- with the image of Tsongkhapa before the believers.

"Master Tsongkhapa is the holiest living Buddha in our mind. Although I have a poor health, I must come to attend the significant religious ceremony," said 73-year-old Tsewang.