Great Family for a Great Mid-Autumn Festival

In conjunction of the traditional Chinese Mid-Autumn festival, also known as the moon-cake festival or the lantern festival, Fo Guang Shan (FGS) South Island celebrated the annual Mid-Autumn festival dinner hosted by the Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) South Island West Subchapter. More than 70 BLIA members and families attended the event as joy fills the air. Great variation of vegetarian food was prepared for the buffet dinner as moon-cakes and the infamous vegetarian biscuit were not to be missed in the menu. BLIA and Young Adult Division (YAD) members got ready wonderful performances, lantern riddles and prizes of lucky draws for this fun family evening. With songs sung, performances enjoyed and a lively atmosphere, everyone celebrated this mid-autumn joyfully.

Attended the event were also special guests, BLIA South Island President, Almeric Cheng, Vice President, Meihua Chen, Advisor, Mr. Ku and her wife - lay Dharma lecturer, Rona Chen and other association directors. Venerable Juexi represented FGS New Zealand Abbess, Venerable Abbess Manshin, in blessing everyone joy and happiness this mid-autumn festival. BLIA South Island West Subchapter President Susan Wu also thanked everyone that helped out in putting this event together; Almeric then thanked all the members’ hard work in giving everyone a feeling of home.

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As the impressive food amazed the guests, it would be no surprise that everyone complimented as everyone felt that they were in a grand banquet. Throughout the evening, lantern riddles were being asked and eager guests tried guessing again and again to win a prize back home. Great performances like hand gestures alongside meaningful songs by the YAD, elegant singing performance by the English Subchapter, the wonderful line dance by the lady members, all led to continuous applauses and a great time for everyone.

The curtains rung down with rounds of FGS songs sung with everyone joining their hands together, marching and dancing in the Dining Hall giving everyone not just a feeling of the Mid-Autumn festival, but also losing the feeling of home sickness of a lot that are far away from their home country.