(QUOTE) Brendan

I’m here today outside Yonghegong, Beijing’s Lama Temple. It’s minus 8 degrees and hundreds of people are waiting in line to get their porridge for free on the Laba Festival. Come with me and let’s take a look to see what it is about.

(VOICE OVER) A Beijinger waiting in line for the porridge

Coming here, I feel really warm inside. It’s not cold at all. I come here every year, and there are always crowds.

(QUOTE) An English expat enjoying the porridge

“It’s about sharing. It is about good things, about…not too much, I don’t know too much about this.”

(VOICE OVER)

According to Mr. Li Lixiang, Director of Research Center of Yonghegong Lama Temple, the porridge is related to Buddhism and Sakyamuni.

(VOICE OVER) Li Lixiang, Director, Research Center of Yonghegong Lama Temple.

On the way into the high mountains in his quest for understanding and enlightenment, Sakyamuni passed into unconsciousness after days of walking and hunger. By a river in India, a shepherdess found him and fed him her lunch -- porridge made with beans and rice. Sakyamuni was thus able to continue his journey and finally realized his dream of full enlightenment on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, becoming Buddha. Ever since, monks and lamas have prepared rice porridge on the eve and held a ceremony the following day, during which they chant sutras and offer porridge to Buddha.