Buddhist leader arrives in Lhasa for religious rites

After completing a 13-day tour of Buddhist and social activities in Chamdo, Tibet autonomous region, the Panchen Erdeni Chos-kyi-rgyal-po — also known as Panchen Rinpoche — arrived in Lhasa, the regional capital, on June 18 and engaged in a series of Buddhist and social activities during his stay.

Panchen Rinpoche, a member of the Standing Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, also serves as vice-president of the Buddhist Association of China and president of the association's Tibet branch. He paid a religious visit to the statue of Shakyamuni Buddha at the Jokhang Temple in Lhasa on Sunday, held prayer meetings and gave head-touching blessings to the monks.

In front of the Shakyamuni Buddha statue, Panchen Rinpoche worshiped the Buddha by making dignified prostrations. And he presented a khadak — a traditional ceremonial scarf that symbolizes high respect and purity — to the Buddha.

After the pilgrimage, Panchen Rinpoche sat on a throne facing the Buddha statue, chanted sutras and prayed for a good harvest, world peace, national prosperity, stability and people's well-being.