Living Buddha Xi Na chants the scriptures in Hong Kong, July 17, 2005.

Tibetan living Buddhas held religious ceremonies in Hong Kong on July 17, attracting about 5,000 Buddhist believers.

This was part of the on-going "China Tibetan Cultural Week" activities here.

The maroon-robed Tibetan monks, bright-colored tangkas and sonorous plateau music brought the religious aura from the snow- covered "roof of the world" to Hong Kong, the modern "oriental pearl" surrounded by sea water.

The ceremony was carried out at a carefully decorated mandala, with three tangkas of Buddha images hung in the center and many lotus-shaped lamps offered by the believers.

Living Buddhas get prepared for the head-touching ceremony for the believers, Hong Kong, July 17, 2005.

In the morning, the Buddhist masters chanted the scriptures to pray for the stability and prosperity of Hong Kong and other parts of the world.

"We were happy to convene at the oriental pearl of Hong Kong to promote Buddhist exchanges between Tibet Autonomous Region and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. We sincerely pray for prosperity and stability for the motherland and peace for the world," said Living Buddha Xi Na, head of the Tibetan Living Buddha Delegation. Living Buddha Xi Na is the title of a Living Buddha reincarnation in Tar Monastery in Qinghai Province.

In the afternoon, eight living Buddhas carried out abhiseka, and the masters would pour water at the heads of Buddhists to forge a link between the students and the masters, so that the students could attain full enlightenment.

The living Buddhas then started a head-touching ceremony for the believers one by one. Head-touching is a religious ceremony in which a Living Buddha or eminent monk blesses lower monks and believers, or rids them of sufferings and disasters by touching their heads with his hand.

"We believe in Buddhism and participated in many rituals held in Hong Kong. This is a rare chance to meet with so many living Buddhas in one ritual," said Choi Chunno, an accountant living in Hong Kong, who waited patiently for the head-touching.

Hong Kong boasts about 1 million Buddhist believers among 6.9 million Hong Kong citizens.

The "China Tibetan Cultural Week" is being held in Hong Kong from July 15 to 21 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the Tibet Autonomous Region.

The cultural week is jointly sponsored by the Information Office of the State Council, the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the people's government of the Tibet Autonomous Region.

Source: Xinhua