Chinese New Year Celebration at Fo Guang Shan Temple Christchurch
On the 24th of January evening, Fo Guang Shan Temple Christchurch held a Chinese New Year Eve celebration which include a prayer, offerings, Striking the Bell of Happiness, wishing cards, Calligraphy sutra copy and tea experience, as well as vegetarian food fair, which attracted over 200 people.
After the Chinese New Year Eve Prayer, the Minister in Charge of Fo Guang Shan Christchurch Venerable Jue Xi mentioned that, in the Chinese tradition, we have something call “resigning from the past year” which is to resign from our bad habits, afflictions and attachments. This year is the year of the rats. The rat represents cleverness and diligence which is something we need to learn. Every new year, we all wish for wealth and prosperity, however, as long as we have compassion and wisdom, we are the wealthy one.
On the Chinese New Year day, the Water Drop Café opened its door to welcome guests to enjoy vegetarian meals and to welcome the new year with lion dance and the wealthy god to wish for good health and wealth for the whole year.