Devoted worshippers were walking along the ritual path under the strong sunshine at noon, June 1, 2012. [Photo by Kunsang Lhamo/ China Tibet Online]

Age is elemental to the pilgrimage of Tibetan Buddhist followers, since it determines not only their physical conditions but also the amount of their walks around the holy sites.

In the month-long Sagya Dawa Festival, devoted followers will walk along the ritual path as many times as their age, to turn the sutras, pray, and to accumulate their virtue and merit.

Unlike the traveling worshipers who left home for Lhasa for a pilgrimage along the Lingkor Road, residents living at the foot of Zongshan Mountain in Gyangze County of Xigaze Prefecture could stay at home to pay homage to the renowned Palkor Monastery in their neighborhood.

Known as the "one hundred thousand Buddhas Monastery" due to the large number of Buddhist murals, paintings and statues in the monastic compound, the Palkor Monastery is believed to contain the most complete collection of Buddha statues across Tibet, therefore local people regard it good enough to walk around their own place of pilgrimage.

Grandpa Dawa started off from home at 5 every morning during the Sagya Dawa Festival, came to the pagoda in Palkor Monastery and joined the flow of pilgrims, chanting sutras and turning the scripture wheel in his hand, circle after circle.

As a 63 year old man, it was easy for Dawa to walk as many times as his age within one day, but he slowed his pace down and finish 63 circles in 2 to 3 days.

"Walking 63 circles in one day shows a huge desire, which is not encouraged in the Buddha's teaching. People should not rush to the result, nor indulge their own desires," Dawa said when he took a break under the wall shadow.

Chungda, a mother of three, left Gyangze and married to a man in Sagya County 13 years ago. She returned Gyangze every year during the Sagya Dawa period to pay homage to the Palkor pagoda, walking one more circle every year.

"People create bad karma intentionally or unconsciously in their life time, so in Sagya Dawa we need to circle the temple or pagoda to make atonement, ask for the Buddha's forgiveness, and remind us to be tolerant and merciful in the future," said Chungda.