ECNS) - Beggars in southwest China are enjoying a special day of generosity to mark the birthday of a bodhisattva, according to the local government information portal of Dali.
In the town of Dali, Yunnan province, locals gather in the streets around a temple to worship Ksitigarbha Buddha, who is said to have been born on the 28th day of the third lunar month, which falls on May 16 this year. On this day, legend has it that the King of Hell opens the gate of the underworld to release the ghosts of the dead for people to worship.
Many Chinese believe that giving to beggars on this day will bring good karma and luck. Beggars from around Dali gather at the temple to take advantage of the opportunity, which has given rise to what locals call a "Beggars' Conference."
Tens of thousands of people attend the gathering, which is filled with firecrackers and smoke. To worship the buddha, people from Yunnan's Bai ethnic minority bring rice, chicken, fruit, wine and tea to the temple.
