Free Vege Congee Served on Buddha’s Enlightement Day

This year’s Buddha’s Enlightenment Day fell on the 5th January 2017. To celebrate this auspicious occasion and to foster good relationship with the public, on this day, Fo Guang Shan (FGS) Buddhist Temple South Island embarked on the serving of free vegetarian congee to devotees and friends of FGS. Early in the morning, led by Temple Supervisor Venerable Jue Xi, more than 20 members of Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) South Island started the preparation of the vegetarian congee in the Temple kitchen.

The cooking was carefully carried out with Venerable Jue Xi and volunteers looking into every details and ensuring no ingredients were missed out. By 10.00 am, headed by BLIA South Island Vice Presidents Louisa Kuo, James Low and Elsa Lee, 500 sets of delicious vegetarian congee were packed by members of BLIA and ready for serving and distribution. At 10.30 am, divided into three teams covering three different routes, members of BLIA South Island started the delivery of free vegetarian congee to friends, factories, shops and offices around Christchurch.

Some members of BLIA South Island came on their own to collect their shares of congee. While many gathered at the Water Drop Café to have their vegetarian congee. Temple welcomed them and explained the meaning and significance of Buddha’s Enlightenment Day. The gathering thoroughly enjoyed the delicious congee and thanked temple’s kind generosity.

This year’s distributions of free vegetarian congee would be carried in two stages. Today’s distribution was stage1, and stage2 registration for free vegetarian congee would be Saturday 7th January. The purpose of this arrangement is to encourage more people to participate more actively in the activities of FGS Temple South Island, thus propagating Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s Humanistic Buddhism in Christchurch.