The story of Laba Festival: China's traditional Laba Festival is actually related to ancient India

"Laba Festival" is a traditional festival of the Han nationality, and there is also a custom of drinking Laba porridge on Laba Festival among the people. So, who is Laba Festival commemorating? Next, let’s take a look at the story about Laba Festival.

The story of Laba Festival: foreign version

Buddha Day

Laba Festival originated in ancient India to commemorate the great Buddhist Sakyamuni. A long time ago, Sakyamuni, the founder of Buddhism, gave up his throne and became a monk in order to save the Brahmin theocracy and the sufferings of birth, old age, sickness and death. During six years of asceticism, he only ate one grain of hemp and one grain of rice every day. On the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, he attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree and became a Buddha, and finally saved all sentient beings. Later generations did not forget the suffering he endured and designated the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month every year as the "Buddha's Enlightenment Day."

Universal Salvation Day

The origin of eating Laba porridge on Laba Festival is related to the six years of asceticism of Sakyamuni mentioned earlier. When Shakyamuni first started his ascetic practice, he wanted to bathe in the river to clear his mind. However, after the bath, he was too weak to climb back to the shore. At this time, a shepherdess named Suyada rescued him and gave him a bowl of porridge made of rice, chestnuts, etc. After eating, the Buddha felt full of energy and came under the Bodhi tree where he suddenly became enlightened. This day happened to be the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month. From then on, every Laba Festival, all major temples would offer porridge to Buddha and give alms to the world to show their respect for the Buddha.