Lingyin Temple prepares Laba porridge for disadvantaged groups(1/7)

Workers prepare Laba porridge at the Lingyin Temple in Hangzhou, East China’s Zhejiang province, Jan 26, 2015. The Buddhist temple has a tradition of distributing porridge for free on the Laba Festival on Jan 27, the eighth day of the 12th lunar month. Abbot Guangquan said the temple this year will focus on offering porridge to disadvantaged groups, such as those in home for the aged and social welfare center. Laba is also recorded as the day Sakyamuni was enlightened or became Buddha. The custom of eating Laba congee became popular in the Song Dynasty (960-1279), with royal families distributing the porridge to the poor. [Photo: China News Service/Li Chenyun]