Buddha worshippers prostrate in front of the Jokhang Temple. Jokhang Temple now houses the statue of 12-year-old Sakyamuni, founder of Buddhism. Each year, hundreds of thousands of pilgrims come to show their piety to Buddha at this time-honored and sacred site. [Photo/Tibet.cn]

Jokhang Temple, the most respected shrine for Tibetan Buddhists, has seen an increasing number of winter visitors and Buddha worshippers from all around since the beginning of the season for farmers and herders.

Xinhua quoted Jokhang Temple Management Board as saying that the temple has received over one million pilgrims, with a daily average of 20,000 people, from since last October.

Lhaba, monk from the temple said that 80% of the Buddha worshippers came from outside Lhasa, mostly from the farming and herding areas of Tibet and neighboring provinces.

The temple management committee estimated that there will be another one million pilgrims coming before the Tibetan New Year, around end of the February.

Gyatso from Dingri of Shigatse came to Lhasa five days ago. Sogyal from Nagqu came all the way with his father, 500 kilometers north to Lhasa.

It has been a continued tradition for Tibetan Buddhist followers to pay respect to the Buddha consecrated in Jokhang Temple in leisure seasons every year.

Jokhang Temple now houses the statue of 12 year old Sakyamuni, founder of Buddhism. Each year, hundreds of thousands of pilgrims came to show their piety to Buddha at this time-honored sacred Buddhist site.

With the establishment of the region's comprehensive transportation network, Buddha worshippers are more than ever free to choose the means of travelling to Lhasa, especially those from outside Tibet. Some take trains along the Qinghai-Tibet railway and some even take air planes.