A Tibetan Buddhist monk offers "holy water" to the monks taking part in the Kalachakra initiation on Friday. [Photos by XU WEI / China Daily]

More than 5,000 Buddhist monks and nuns take part in the Kalachakra initiation hosted by the Panchen Lama Bainqen Erdini Qoigyijabu in Xigaze of Tibet autonomous region on Friday.The Kalachakra initiation, regarded as Tibetan Buddhism's highest teachings, has drawn more than 100,000 devotees from across the country as they gathered at a venue near the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, the Panchen Lama's traditional seat, to hear his teaching.

Kalachakra - meaning "wheel of time"- is a ritual that aims to initiate and empower disciples. This is the first Kalachakra given by the 11th Panchen Lama since his enthronement in 1995.