Celebrations for the traditional Shoton Festival, or Yogurt Festival, are underway in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region.

On Friday morning, hundreds of thousands of local people and travelers joined the annual ceremony of "shining the Buddha Thangka." 

In excitement, the Tibetan Buddhists carried a giant Buddha Thangka out of an ancient temple at Drepung Monastery some five kilometers west of the city proper.

It's for a public show during the first day of the seven-day Shoton Festival in Lhasa.

Many believers escorted the giant scroll to the platform where the shining ceremony took place.

Locals felt honored and excited to help carry this 42-meter-long Thangka scroll, despite hours of rain in the morning. And when the solemn moment arrived and the giant Thangka of Jamba, or the Buddha of the future, was unveiled before the people, it was a sight to behold. 

Hadas, pieces of silk used as greeting gifts, are dedicated. While worshipers are too devoted to say anything, travelers express themselves through admiration.

A traveler said that he and his family came a long way from central China and got up at 3 in the morning just to see this grand event. "We have been really moved," he said.

Another traveler said that despite the chilly weather in the morning, she was touched by the faithfulness of local people.

Shining the Buddha Thangka is a major part of the Shoton Festival in Lhasa. There is also another important display held in Lhasa's Sera Monastery almost at the same time.

The experience as many people say is a moment of enlightenment.

After this, many locals will join with their families, eat yoghurt, and enjoy various traditional cultural activities until the end of the festival on September 5.

Click to learn more:

The Shoton Festival: A Tibetan cultural banquet on the roof of the world

Video filmed by Fan Xin, Yi Xi