Drepung Monastery during the Yogurt Festival, also known as Shoton Festival. Drepung Monastery was founded in 1416 by Tsongkhapa's disciple Jamyang Choeje. It was the home of the Dalai Lamas before the Potala Palace was built in the 17th century. It resembles a pile of white rice at a distance, what was called "Monastery of the rice harvest" (Drepung Gompa) in Tibetan. The monastery he was relatively well in the Cultural Revolution (1966 to 1977), but their participation in demonstrations for independence in 1987 has allowed a close surveillance by the Chinese government. On September 27, 1987, about 20 monks from Drepung unfurled banners and a Tibetan flag and marched around the Barkhor in Lhasa before being arrested in front of the headquarters of the Tibet Autonomous Region. Today, a compound of the Public Security Bureau is below the monastery and "monks painting" keep a close watch on the activities of everyday life. The most venerated image of Drepung is the statue of Maitreya Buddha (future Buddha), 15 meters high and designed by Tsongkhapa located on the third floor of the main building. Visitors are offered holy water to receive it. In the Buddhist scriptures second floor and first floor contains many Buddha statues and other decorations. A chapel north of the second floor houses a sacred mirror said to cure diseases of the face of those who look at it. Similarly, several yards into the woods around the monastery used by monks to discuss the sutras (Buddhist scriptures). The winners of the debates can take an examination for the higher degree of Geshi. One of the traditional events taking place in elMonasterio Shoton Festival is held every August, where the monks go to the mountains for meditation. Now back to the monastery, they participate in the festivities, including performances of Tibetan opera.