Lunar New Year events warms Publics’ Hearts

Fo Guang Shan (FGS) South Island New Zealand’s 2021 Light & Art Show has commenced for a few weeks already, attracting many visitors across Christchurch City. Many of the daytime visitors who came to the temple brought their family and friends to enjoy the evening light show and the display was enjoyed by both children and adults.

Besides enjoying the light show, visitors were also delighted by the various programmes arranged by the temple. These include ringing the happiness bell in the courtyard, writing wish cards, visiting the After a Thousand Miles World Tour exhibition at the art gallery, refreshments at the Tea House, and sutra transcriptions at the main shrine.

Visitors were fascinated by the light show that was put on to celebrate the arrival of the Lunar New Year. The light of the Dharma illuminates, and promotes the series of activities heralding in the New Year such as Dharma events, lighting the first incense, receiving red packets of luck, lion dances, traditional folk dances, and eating servings of auspicious congee. The visitors look forward to attending these activities in the coming weeks with their friends and family, hoping to learn more about traditional Chinese cultural festivals while enriching the multicultural society of New Zealand.