Celebrating Coffee & Chocolate Festival in FGS South Island
To restore joy and harmony back to South Island New Zealand, on 16th June 2019, Fo Guang Shan (FGS) South Island Christchurch held a unique ‘Coffee and Chocolate Festival’ in its temple ground. During the Festival, the atmosphere was filled with the rich aroma from the coffee and chocolate, adding warmth to the cold winter air. On that day, about 1300 people of Christchurch, embraced in joy and cheerfulness, took part in the Festival.
The Event brought together many notable participants among whom were the amazing ‘She Universe Chocolate’, the famous New Zealand Cup Tasters Champion and Judge Panel member for 2018 1nd 2019 New Zealand Barista Championship, Ken Shi, and the popular ‘White Horse Cheese’. These apart, the visitors were also greeted with a variety of delicious pastries, breads, and Taiwanese food, each of which brought them immense delight.
The Festival was also interspersed with many colourful activities including the live demonstration painting by coffee artist Larry Abreno, the Coffee Exhibition, the ‘Life is for living and loving chocolate! Let’s jump in together!’ Talk by the Chocolate Ambassador Oonagh Browne, live performance by singers Ballantyne Haine and David Arkenstone Barnett, live performance by the Christchurch Accordion Orchestra, and the Flute and Taichi performance. The famous Grey Wizard was also present throughout to add colour to the Event. The stream of patrons were pleasantly surprised by the multitude of activities and took delight in them.
To cope with the huge crowd and to offer quick service, FGS New Zealand Abbess Venerable Manshin discarded protocol and personally joined in in the preparation of the cheese noodle, handing out bowl after bowl of hot tasty noodle, meanwhile explaining to the people the objectives behind organising this Festival. The people were very touched by these grand objectives.
The Coffee and Chocolate Festival has received resounding response from the people of Christchurch and has served to inject new vigour into the City, allowing the people to bid farewell to the dark shadow of the past and welcome the future with a smile. Every visitor has been filled with joy and has been handsomely rewarded. Due to its success, this Festival has now become one of the new models for the propagation of Humanistic Buddhism in New Zealand and it has also set a record for having the most number of participants in a single-day event in FGS South Island.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKhLBGdr2I4