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Lhasa's Jokhang Temple open to public after fire

Xinhua,February 18, 2018 Adjust font size:

LHASA, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- An orderly crowd of pilgrims and tourists lined up Sunday to visit the Jokhang Temple in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, one day after part of the sacred monastery caught fire.

The fire broke out at 6:40 Saturday evening and was soon put out. No casualties have been reported.

There are no visible signs of the fire in the areas open to the public expect for some water marks in the main hall of the monastery, according to Xinhua reporters at the scene on Sunday.

The temple is renowned in Tibetan Buddhism. It has a history of more than 1,300 years and houses many cultural treasures, including a life-sized statue of the Sakyamuni Buddha when he was 12 years old.

Many pilgrims were relieved after they saw the statue was unscathed by the fire. Some were so moved that they shed tears while kowtowing and praying before the statue.

"I felt greatly relieved after seeing the statue was undamaged," said Kelsang Metog, a pilgrim from Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in neighboring Sichuan Province.

The Barkhor, a bustling market street near the monastery, was reopened to the public Sunday morning after a temporary closure following the fire.

The Jokhang Temple will be closed from Feb. 19 to 22 as scheduled, when its monks mark the New Year holiday. The Tibetan New Year was celebrated Friday, coinciding with the Spring Festival this year. Enditem

 

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