The Sera Monastery, which happens to be the first of the Buddhist monasteries in Lhasa that closed down following the outbreak of anti-government riots in Tibet last month, has been reopened again. The Sera Monastery opened its doors on Monday, April 28 for the first time since massive anti-government riots rocked the Tibetan capital on March 14.

 

Tenzin Namgyal, who is the deputy director of the Tibet Autonomous Regional Ethnic and Religious Affairs Committee, informed that monks were being taught legal knowledge presently and that the monastery has recommenced normal religious activities. He said that other monasteries that got closed will also be reopened soon.

 

It is reported that the Chinese authorities have intensified patriotic education under which monks are required to make ritual denunciations of the exiled Dalai Lama, embrace the Chinese-anointed Panchen Lama as well as vow loyalty to Beijing. Lhasa's three main monasteries comprising Sera, Drepung and Ganden along with the sacred Jokhang Temple are guarded by officials in present times.