Great Vegetarian Food at CHCH Lantern Festival

With wonderful summer weather and atmosphere, vibrantly coloured lanterns lit up North Hagley Park on the 27th and 28th of February in celebrating the 2 years absented Christchurch Lantern Festival. The Christchurch City Council hosted the event with Air New Zealand undertaking for the first time. They were joined by 70 different stalls filled with various cuisines and participated with cultural and educational booths.

This is the tenth time Fo Guang Shan (FGS) South Island NZ and Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) South Island NZ took part and this time, FGS Temple Supervisor Venerable Jue Xi, BLIA South Island NZ President SeeShen Lee, Vice President Louisa Kuo, committee members and BLIA Young Adult Division (YAD) members which adds up to around 30 of them were engaged with the booths. Besides promoting and selling tickets of the show “Siddhartha the Musical” that is taking place on the 10th of May, they have also prepared the long awaited healthy vegetarian food for the people of Christchurch.

FGS and BLIA members have in two nights continuously and diligently make ready curry noodles, handmade coriander pancakes, pan-fried dumplings, fry noodles, sweet corn and other delicacies. Lines were long where the people of Christchurch waited to savour the treat. They are impressed by the cleanliness, cooperation, understanding and the highest standard of hygiene provided where many gave them a “Like” button. FGS and BLIA members were filled with joy that they could provide vegetarian food to them and thanked them for their support. A couple from the United State said the lantern festival had fascinated them and they have enjoyed good vegetarian food as FGS and BLIA booths are their favourite.

Apart of vegetarian food, BLIA members also arranged educational products at the educational booth and with this cause, they have also shared trailers of “Siddhartha the Musical” which will be showing at the Isaac Theatre Royal. The beautiful music from the musical has also attracted the public and many have inquired on relevant information.
An array of best performances from China like the Shanghai Puppet Theatre, acrobats and Beijing’s biggest alternative rock band “Second Hand Rose” and many more were there to perform. In the end of the festival, the host has put up fireworks and a session of writing wishes on the lanterns took place.

Venerable Jue Xi expressed, the involvement of BLIA members sharing the chance with the public to join “Siddhartha the Musical” is intended towards a common goal and to provide good cause as BLIA members will spread and give positive energy to the Christchurch public. Through the preparation and work for this festival, members of the BLIA understand more on the importance of participation, the willingness of a volunteer and the spirit of never give up in working tirelessly, helping the temple in joining the festival, making them followers in the path of Bodhisattvas.