Today marks the Laba Festival, a meaningful day deeply rooted in Chinese tradition. Known as the "Buddha's Enlightenment Festival," it is celebrated on the 8th day of the 12th lunar month. This holiday combines Buddhist traditions with local customs, carrying gratitude for the past year’s harvest and hopes for the year ahead.

Origin of Laba Festival

The Laba Festival originates from ancient sacrificial rituals, where people would honor agricultural gods, deities, and nature spirits. These rites were practiced in various forms from the Xia to the Qin Dynasties. The name "Laba" comes from the eight deities worshipped in these ceremonies. Over time, it evolved into a day celebrating the harvest and honoring the natural world.

The Buddhist connection to Laba comes from the legend of Siddhartha Gautama, who, after meditating under the Bodhi tree and fainting from hunger, was revived by a girl who gave him porridge. This act of kindness led him to enlightenment, and Buddhist temples began preparing porridge on this day in honor of his spiritual awakening.

The Tradition of Laba Porridge

A central tradition of the Laba Festival is preparing Laba porridge, also known as “Seven Treasures Porridge.” It’s made with a variety of ingredients, such as rice, millet, beans, dates, peanuts, lotus seeds, and brown sugar. The ingredients are cooked in a specific order, creating a rich, flavorful porridge that symbolizes good fortune, harmony, and the warding off of evil.

Laba porridge is shared by families, expressing love and hopes for a better life. It is also gifted to friends and loved ones as a way to spread blessings. In different regions, the festival is marked with unique customs and dishes like Laba steamed food, garlic hanging, Laba noodles, and Laba zongzi, all contributing to the richness of the celebration.