Some traditions of Tibet might be vanishing with introducing modernization into Tibet, but the pilgrimage life in Tibet has never been changed because Tibetan people’s belief cannot be changed. Travelers can experience traditional pilgrimage life in Lhasa everyday.
In front of Jokhang Temple, you can see numerous Tibetan pilgrims, reciting the Six-Syllable Charm Prayers, rising up and putting their hands together, then prostrating on the ground. The pilgrims come from far and near, who have enveloped themselves in the burning incense in front of the Jokhang Temple just after day break. The physically arduous ritual of full-body kowtow may make pilgrims exude sweat.
Lhasa, famous for its world cultural heritages, such as the Potala Palace and, the Jokhang Temple,, is an ancient city with a history of over 1,300 years.
For thousands of years, Tibetan Buddhism followers pilgrim and pray here, forming the three major praying paths of Lhasa, including the "Nangkuo" Street surrounding the audience hall of the Jokhang Temple, the "Bakuo" Street encircles the Jokhang Temple, and the "Linkuo" Street around Lhasa.
Situated in the old town of Lhasa, the "Barkhor Street" is a famous praying path and business center. In the 7th century AD King Songtsan Gampo built the Jokhang Temple in the Wotang Lale. The temple attracted numerous pilgrims, who, as time passes, "walked out" a path, known as the initial "Barkhor Street".
The "Barkhor Street" mirrors the historical development of Tibet since ancient times, as it has combined religion, culture and tourism with business together.
"Pilgrims have gradually come since about five o'clock every morning, and the praying ritual won't stop until noon. Taking ritual walks is a kind of Tibetan culture, and without it the Tibetan flavor would be lost," said Min Long, a businessman from Sichuan Province, who has been engaged in business in the "Barkhor Street" for ten years.
As the holiest shrine for Buddhism believers, the Jokhang Temple receives 30,000 pilgrims every day, and the number of visitors could reach about 100,000 person-times on a major religious holiday.
Every morning, Dondrup prays for a moment after adding ghee and changing water in his worshipping hall. Then he goes outside to take ritual walks for three to four hours, during when the period he meets old friends in the tea house for drinking and chatting. Such kind of life has lasted about seven to eight years for the 60-year-old Tibetan man.
No one could tell the exactly number of pilgrims walking around on Lhasa streets every day. However, one thing is clear that the leisurely pace of life pilgrims have presented over the past thousands of years has never changed.
If you travel to Lhasa, it is best to get up early and go to the Barkhor Street to experience the traditional pilgrimage life of Tibetan people fully.
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