The 11th Panchen Lama, Bainqen Erdini Qoigyijabu (above), greets followers at the opening of his Kalachakra instructions on Thursday in Xigaze, the second-largest city of the Tibet autonomous region. An estimated 50,000 devotees are expected to attend the fourday ritual. PHOTOS BY GALSANG JIGME / TIBET DAILY

From across the country and overseas, thousands gathered on Thursday for a sacred festival as the highly respected Panchen Lama began one of Tibetan Buddhism’s most important rituals, held for the first time in more than half a century.

An estimated 50,000 monks, nuns and devotees showed up in the rain in Xigaze, the second-largest city of the Tibet autonomous region, to hear Panchen Lama Bainqen Erdini Qoigyijabu give the Kalachakra initiation, regarded as Tibetan Buddhism’s highest teachings.

The 11th Panchen Lama, Bainqen Erdini Qoigyijabu (above), greets followers at the opening of his Kalachakra instructions on Thursday in Xigaze, the second-largest city of the Tibet autonomous region. An estimated 50,000 devotees are expected to attend the fourday ritual. PHOTOS BY GALSANG JIGME / TIBET DAILY

The ritual, which will last four days, began on Thursday afternoon near Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, the Panchen Lama’s traditional seat. At the same time, about 40 monks began a closed-door observance honoring Yidam, the Kalachakra deity.

According to Tibetan Buddhist tradition, the Kalachakra is a ritual that aims to initiate and empower disciples. This is the first Kalachakra, which means “wheel of time”, given by the 11th Panchen Lama since his enthronement in 1995.

The Panchen Lama said that the last Kalachakra, given by the late 10th Panchen Lama in 1954, also commenced on a rainy day.

“It is a propitious sign,” he told his followers.

Although it is Tibetan Buddhist tradition that devotees must remove their hats before meeting a high-ranking living Buddha, the Panchen Lama allowed them to listen to his teachings while wearing hats or using umbrellas.

The event will also include sessions of public instruction and initiations, scheduled for every afternoon from Thursday to Sunday.

Some devotees have made a long and difficult journey to Xigaze.

“But I’m so pleased to be in the audience for the Panchen Lama’s Kalachakra teachings,” said Pematso, who is from Tianzhu Tibetan autonomous county of Gansu province, about 2,500 kilometers away.

The 45-year-old had to cope with arthritis while making the four-day journey from his hometown to attend the ritual.

“I cherish this opportunity, and I am pleased to attend such a high-level and precious teachings. It gives me many lesson on how to be a righteous person and how to behave properly,” he said.

Wangdu, a Tibetan in his 70s who is from Sakya county in the Tibet autonomous region, said the event is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for him to listen to the teachings of a senior living Buddha.

“I usually herd animals on the mountain. But I realized I have something far more important to do when I learned about the Kalachakra,” he said. “I will cherish this great opportunity, and I pray that all living beings will get rid of the sufferings of the existence of life cycle.”

The Panchen Lama, who is vice-president of the Buddhist Association of China, is an accomplished Buddhist leader who has given head-touching blessings to 1.5 million Buddhists.