The 11th Panchen Lama paid homage to Sakyamuni, the founder of
Buddhism, at the Jokhan Temple in Lhasa, capital of southwest
China's Tibet Autonomous Region.
Bainqen Erdini Qoigyijabu, Tibet's religious leader, arrived at
the Jokhan Temple early on Wednesday morning to pay his annual
respects to Sakyamuni.
He presented a "hada", a white scarf which is a symbol of best
wishes, and kowtowed before the founder's statue.
The 11th Panchen Lama also performed benediction rituals for his
followers at the temple.
Born on February 13, 1990 in Lhari county of Nagqu prefecture in
northern Tibet, Bainqen Erdini Qoigyijabu was approved by the
central government in November 1995 as the reincarnation of the
10th Panchen Lama. He was installed on December 8, 1995.
(Xinhua News Agency August 24, 2006)