The Lava Festival (a traditional Chinese festival celebrated on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month) falls on January 18 this year, coinciding with the enlightenment day of the Buddha. In accordance with Buddhist traditions, Lingyin Temple in Hangzhou held a sutra chanting and prayer ceremony, praying for favorable weather, national prosperity and peace for the people.
At 8:30 in the morning, Master Benkong, entrusted by the Abbot of Lingyin Temple Venerable Master Guangquan, delivered a Dharma talk. He explained the customs of the Laba Festival and encouraged the disciples to be grateful for the Buddha's appearance in the earthly realm and his enlightenment teachings, while learning the values of equality and compassion in Buddhism.
The prayer ceremony officially began at 10:00, with Venerable Master Guangquan leading the incense offering and disciples taking turns to participate.
In addition to the prayer ceremony, Lingyin Temple also holds various festive activities on the day of the Laba Festival, including Buddha worship, scripture chanting, and the distribution of rice porridge. These activities reflect the temple’s commitment to honoring the sacrificial rites practiced during the Zhou and Qin dynasties, as well as the Laba Festival customs from the Tang and Song dynasties. Through the integration of religious beliefs with secular concepts, Lingyin Temple has become a prominent representative of the Laba Festival rituals in China.
