Time to have Laba porridge
(chinadaily.com.cn/Xinhua) Updated: 2007-01-26 14:28

Local residents queue up to get "Laba Porridge" doled
out by a drug store in Hangzhou, capital of
east China's Zhejiang Province Friday. Laba, the eight day of the
12th month in the lunar calendar, falls on January 26 this year. The tradition
of having "Laba Porridge" on this day began long ago with the tale of the
Sakyamuni. He was fed with porridge by a shepherdess after he fainted at the
roadside after days of travel in India without food and water. He recovered
quickly and attained buddhahood underneath a bodhi tree. Therefore, the day was
first commemorated in temples and porridge doled out to thank the mortal who
saved his life. Later the folks also have porridge on the day to wish for good
luck. [Xinhua]

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