A citizen is taking Laba congee at Luohan Temple, Chongqing, Jan.13, 2019.

By Keqiao Cheng, EDITOR

Chongqing - Laba Festival is traditionally celebrated in China. It falls on the eighth day of the 12th month of the Chinese calendar. Originally, the Festival aimed to worship ancestors and gods and pray for a bumper harvest, good luck, and protection from evil.

A Buddhism-related festival

Besides, consumption of the Laba congee has been a tradition for over a thousand years. Although different areas will prepare varied ingredients for the congee, the basic ones include cereal, beans, and dried fruits.

Citizens were queuing to take congee at Luohan Temple.

In China, this day is also considered as the enlightenment day of the Buddha. Therefore, many customs of the Laba Festival are related to Buddhism. During the day, many temples in China prepares free Laba congee as good deeds.

Citizens queue up for Laba congee

This year’s Laba Festival was on January 13. At 6:50 a.m., queuing-up citizens began to take Laba congee in Luohan Temple, Yuzhong District, Chongqing.

Li Dongwan is tasting the congee.

Li Dongwan, a janitor, said she came here after finishing work at 6:30 a.m. Thus, she even got the privilege to take the congee ahead of others.

Preparation of Laba congee

Also, chief of the canteen said they made over 1,500 kg congee, consuming more than 1,000 kg sticky rice. What's more, some believers donated sticky rice, peanuts and some other materials, increasing the planned 750 kg to the over 1,500 kg. The temple gave away over 10,000 bowls of congee in the morning alone.

People were taking the congee orderly.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the city, many citizens were also queuing up for the congee. Now, have a look at the video of the Laba Festival in Huayan Temple, Jiulongpo District, Chongqing.

Source: CQCB