On August 16 (the 30th day of the sixth month on the Tibetan calendar), the annual Shoton Festival began in Lhasa, Tibet. The Buddha painting unrolling activity was held at the Drepung Monastery located in the western suburb of Lhasa as scheduled, marking the beginning of the festival.

Early in the morning, the giant Thangka scroll was carried to the altar and then unfolded slowly by monks and believers, accompanied by the solemn dharma horns. The crowds of believers and tourist on the mountain cheer passionately, and stood in line towards the Buddha to make a wish and pray.

Drepung Monastery, with a history of more than 600 years, is one of the main monasteries of the Gelug Sect of Tibetan Buddhism, constituting the three big major monasteries of Lhasa together with Ganden Monastery and Sera Monastery.