Drepung Monastery is 8km west of downtown Lhasa. Spectacularly sited-enclosed on three sides by boudler-strewn peaks-Drepung is an entire monastic town that once housed a community of some 9,000 monks but currently there are only about 500 monks. It is famed for its scholars and probably is the most powerful monastery among the three main Gelupak monastery in Lhasa (the other two being Sera and Gandan).
Our tour was purposely scheduled to observe the unfurling of the Tanka at the Drepung Monastery, marking the opening of the Shotun festival and probably the most important ceremony of the festival. In chinese, the ceremony literally means "sunbathing the big buddha". As our tour guide was afraid that the authorities will close the road leading up the monastary, we left the hotel in the wee hours of the morning. Alas, when we reach the foot of the hill the road is already closed. So we need to trek the long way up the hills. Luckily at about half way point our tour guide manage to negotiate for minibus to bring us up. Nevetheless, it is still a strenous climb from the monastery carpark to the unfurling site. Unlike other monastery (e.g. Tashilhunpo, Sera) where there is a purposely built wall for Tanka unfurling, in Drepung the Tanka is unfurled on the hillsite at the deep end of the monastery.
After reaching the unfurling site, it was a long wait in the dark for the ceremony to start at first light. It rained occasionally but luckily there was a tent at the site, so all the pilgrims and observers squeeze into the tent. The ceremony started at first light and it was an interesting experience. An unforgettable start to our Tibet tour.
View Larger Map1. Preparing the unfurling
2. Monks carrying the Tanka
3. Paying respect to the deities
4 to 6. Unfurling the Tanka
7. Pilgrims and observers
8. Pilgrims and observers. The tent is probably where the high lamas and officials observe the ceremony
9 to 11. The Tanka bathing in early morning sunlight
12. A Golden roof in Drepung
13. A Drepung Hall
14 & 15. Roof ornaments
16. Lhasa Valley from Drepung
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