A painting of the Buddha, or a thangka, that is 37-by-40 meters, is placed on display at Drepung Monastery in Lhasa, the Tibet autonomous region, on Monday. [Photo by Feng Yongbin/China Daily]

Celebrations of the annual Shoton Festival began in Lhasa, the Tibet autonomous region, on Monday.

The seven-day event got underway at Drepung Monastery, the largest monastery of Tibetan Buddhism's Gelug Sect, where a large thangka painting of the Buddha was put on display.

The festival has three main parts: the Great Buddha Display, Tibetan Opera Show and Horsemanship and Yak Race Show.

"I was excited when I was asked to perform Tibetan Opera at the gala. This is the first time I have come to Lhasa to perform," said Losang, 30, from Shannan.

"Farming is my everyday job, and I only perform opera during galas. I am thrilled that the festival provides an opportunity for me to mingle with other Tibetan Opera performers," he added.

Champa Tsering, 52, of Lhasa, said his family celebrates Shoton Festival every year.

"My family and I went to the thangka exhibition at Drepung Monastery at about 6 am today and watched Tibetan Opera at around 10 am. We won't go home until the end of this evening's celebrations," he said.

In addition to exhibitions, Tibetan Opera performances and demonstrations of Tibetan equestrianism, the weeklong extravaganza also includes hiking, yogurt-eating and beer-drinking contests and a Tibetan-style fashion show.