At the onset of the Chinese traditional Laba Festival, Beijing Lingguang Temple and Shanghai Jade Buddha Temple and Jing'an Temple hosted the free porridge feasts on Thursday. Laba Festival celebrated on the eighth day of the 12th lunar month, is considered a prelude to the Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year. The festival is also related to Sakyamuni, the founder of Buddhism. Legend has it that it was on the eighth day of the 12th lunar month that Sakyamuni attained enlightenment and became the Buddha, thousands of years ago. On this day, Chinese people always eat "Laba" porridge which contains glutinous rice, red beans, millet, sorghum, peas, dried lotus seeds, soybeans, etc., and light incense sticks, besides offering their prayers in the temple. Photos: Li Hao, Yang Hui/GT