As the first ray of sun glow touched Drepung Temple in Lhasa early Thursday, thousands of local worshippers and tourists from afar on the road to the monastery viewed a imposing scene of praying to a Buddha portrait printed ona huge cloth piece.

The 20-meter long portrait of Buddha was gradually unfurled before viewers in a cloud of incense, a shower of camera flashes and exclamations of wonder.

Worshipers threw silk Kha-btags at the Buddha portrait and prayed for safety and happiness.

The ceremony, known as Zhanfo, which means Buddha worship, marks the start of Tibet's annual Xodoin Festival.

The Xodoin Festival, which is also called the Tibetan Opera Festival, is held annually from the end of the sixth month to the middle of the seventh month in Tibetan calendar. The word Xodoin means yogurt banquet.

More tourists from foreign countries and other parts of China attended this year's Zhanfo ceremony than ever before, according to local sources.

A young lady from Beijing, after watching the magnificent ceremony with her American boyfriend, said that they will surely describe it to friends in the United States.

Lamas in the Drepung monastery said a grand ceremony is held every year at the monastery on June 30 in accordance with the Tibetan calendar, allowing more disciples access to the Buddha.

A similar Buddha worship ceremony was also held Thursday in theLhasa-based Sera monastery.

( Xinhua News Agency August 9, 2002)