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Disinformation report hotline: 010-85061466
People queue in the early morning to enter Beijing's Lama Temple, or Yonghe Lamasery, as monks distribute free Laba congee to visitors on January 18, 2024. /CFP
People queue for Laba congee at Beijing's Lama Temple on January 18, 2024. /CFP
Crowds form at the Lama Temple in Beijing for the Laba Festival on January 18, 2024. /CFP
The Laba Festival is a major festival celebrated in the 12th month of the Chinese lunar calendar, which is also known as the month of "La." Falling on January 18, 2024 in the Gregorian calendar, the festival is also regarded as a prelude to the Spring Festival, as there are only three weeks to go before it arrives.
One legend of the Laba Festival that has a history of more than 1,000 years comes from Buddhism. As the story goes, the Laba Festival was the day that Sakyamuni, the founder of Buddhism, attained enlightenment and became a Buddha.
On this day, the ancient Indians commemorated Sakyamuni's attainment of enlightenment by eating mixed congee. Since the introduction of Buddhism to China, temples have held gatherings and made congee with grains and dried fruits to offer to the disciples and believers who attend the commemoration. In many temples, monks also distribute congee to the poor as a way of serving the faithful and accumulating good deeds.
Visitors receive Laba congee from a monk at the Ciyun Temple in Huai'an City, Jiangsu Province on January 18, 2024. /CFP
Many people believe that by eating Laba congee they can receive the blessings of the Buddha. Many worshipers come to the temple on the day of the Laba Festival not just to sample the congee for themselves but also to take it home to share with their families.
Over the years, the tradition of making Laba congee in temples has gradually spread throughout the country, becoming a folk custom across northern China in particular.
People queue at the Hanshan Temple in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province in the early morning on January 18, 2024. /CFP
As well as eating congee, people across China celebrate the festival by making Laba garlic and holding other festivities to share the joy of coming together as the lunar year draws to a close and a new one approaches.
Read this to learn more about Laba: A delicious culinary festival held across China