Tibet marks Panchen Lama's enthronment anniversary

The 11th Panchen Lama delivers a speech during the grand ceremony commemorating the 10th anniversary of his enthronement at the Zhaxi Lhunbo Lamasery, the Panchen Lama's residence, in Xigaze, 270 kilometers from Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Dec. 8, 2005. More than 1,300 Tibetan Buddhists flocked in the Zhaxi Lhunbo Lamasery Thursday for the grand celebration ceremony that went on for three hours. Gyaincain Norbu, born on February 13, 1990 in Lhari county of Nagqu prefecture in northern Tibet, was approved by Chinese central government in November 1995 as the reincarnation of the 10th Panchen Lama, who died in 1989, after a lot drawing ceremony among three candidates in the Jokhang Temple in Lhasa. He was enthroned as the 11th Panchen Lama on Dec. 8, 1995.

Tibetan Buddhists gather at the Zhaxi Lhunbo Lamasery, the 11th Panchen Lama's residence in Xigaze, to attend the grand ceremony commemorating the 10th anniversary of the 11th Panchen Lama's enthronement in Xigaze, 270 kilometers from Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Dec. 8, 2005.

Tibetan Buddhists pray during the grand ceremony commemorating the 10th anniversary of the 11th Panchen Lama's enthronement, held on Dec. 8, 2005 at the Zhaxi Lhunbo Lamasery, the Panchen Lama's residence, in Xigaze, 270 kilometers from Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. More than 1,300 Tibetan Buddhists flocked in the Zhaxi Lhunbo Lamasery Thursday for the grand celebration ceremony that went on for three hours.

The 11th Panchen Lama (C Front) talks with lamas of the same age with him on Dec. 8, 2005 at the Zhaxi Lhunbo Lamasery, the Panchen Lama's residence, in Xigaze, 270 kilometers from Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region.