People gather to view a giant embroidery thangka at the Sera Monastery in Lhasa, capital of the Xizang autonomous region, to celebrate the start of the annual Shoton Festival on Sunday. PALDEN NYIMA/CHINA DAILY

Thousands of people attended the unrolling of a thangka — a giant religious artwork made of embroidered silk — to kick off the Lhasa Shoton Festival on Sunday.

Accompanied by the sound of horns, monks and residents slowly unrolled the thangka on a display stand near the Sera Monastery in the capital of the Xizang autonomous region at about 8 am.

The attendees woke early — some even stayed up through the night to worship — and many got soaked by rain on the way to the monastery, residents at the festival said.

A monk at the monastery said this year's image depicted the Buddha Maitreya, known as Gyalwa Champa in the Tibetan language.

Apart from the traditional "sunning of the Buddha ceremonies" at Lhasa's Sera and Drepung monasteries, this year's festival — which will run for a week or longer — will feature Tibetan opera performances, picnics, concerts, art shows, an imported goods fair, and horse and yak races.

Grocery store owner Yeshe Lhamo closed her business on Sunday to take part in the festivities.

"I got up at 6 am and I arrived here around 8 am," she said. "In order to wish for good luck, we all wear new clothes on this special occasion."

Yeshe Lhamo said her family will have picnics and eat yogurt during the holiday, and some of her relatives and friends will watch Tibetan opera shows and horse races.

One of the most popular festivals in Xizang, Shoton is celebrated each year on the 30th day of the sixth month according to the Tibetan calendar. Lhasa residents traditionally offer yogurt to monks during the festival, and in return, the monks stage exhibitions for residents.

Ten-year-old Tenzin Nyandrak said it was the first time he had attended the unrolling of a thangka.

"The Buddha image is giant, the patterns are very beautiful and colorful, and I am very impressed to see it," he said.

Tenzin Nyandrak presented a hada — a traditional ceremonial scarf that symbolizes great respect and purity — to the Buddha image, and prayed that he will perform well in his studies next semester. He also hoped that his mother would buy him a puppy.

"In the next few days, I hope to go on picnics with my family," he said. "I also want to see equestrian performances and yak riding races."

Sonam Jampal, who is in charge of the five-day Lhasa Shoton Imports Expo, said merchants from nearly 30 countries and regions are taking part, with more foreign participants and imported goods this year.

"Thanks to the efforts made by government institutions, including the Lhasa commerce bureau, it has become possible for this event to take place this time, and it is a good chance for local residents to shop for imported goods," Sonam Jampal said.