Promoted healthy life style in 2018 FGS NZ Vege Fest

To promote 'Vege Plan A' and to encourage the public to go vegetarian as prelude to refraining from killing and to take good care of the Environment and love our planet, on 25th November 2018, for the first time, Fo Guang Shan (FGS) South Island hosted the “International Vegetarian Day 2018 FGS New Zealand Vegefest”. More than 600 people of all ethnics, young and old, attended the event. Though it was light shower throughout the whole day, the enthusiasm of the people was not diminished, and the happy crowd kept pouring in, making the event warm and colourful.

The event took place at the Water Drop Café and the Dining Hall of the Temple. These venues were beautifully setup exuding an air of serenity and elegance, rivalling the dining areas found in five-star hotels. The tables were full of vegetarian food from various countries and included delicacies such as curry puff, shumai, spring rolls, sushi rolls, fried rice, fried noodles, coriander pan cakes, baked potatoes, desserts etc. The guests, especially those who rarely encounter Asian cuisine, were amazed by the delicious food served and could not stop showering praises.

In this Vegefest, a variety of stalls was held on cark park of the temple. In total, ten stalls were set up, offering a wide range of merchandise including daily necessity, decorating products、food, vegetable products and hot food, etc. Among the stalls was one set up by a non–profit organisation SAFE to promote ‘Animal Care’. The stalls were well patronised by the guests who were very happy with the purchases they made. Indeed, the endless stream of patrons resulted in a busy scene bustling with activity.

Meanwhile at the Fo Guang Yuan (FGY) Art Gallery Christchurch, three Christchurch artists, Contemporary Jeweller Noelin Walker, Fabrics Weaver Wilson Henderson and Pottery Artist Marie Dawson demonstrated the ways how their art pieces were made. Their lively performances were real crowd puller. At the shows, there were active interactions between the artists and the spectators. The artists patiently answered the various questions raised by the spectators and were happy to share their experiences with them.

On the same day, members of Botanical Art Society New Zealand Elizabeth Yuil Protor and Suzi Pearce were at the FGY Art Gallery to demonstrate the process involved in Botanical Art painting. Elizabeth used a real leaf to illustrate the steps taken. She first outlined the external profile of the leaf on a piece of drawing paper. Next, she used a magnifying glass to observe pattern of the veins and to draw the vein pattern onto the leaf profile. She finally completed the painting by adding colours to the drawing. The spectators were very much taken in with Elizabeth’s skill and were full of praises for the painting.

doTERRA Company participated in the event by conducting a product health talk. Staff of the company explained to the audience the concept of Health and elaborated on the effective ways to take care of one’s health. The talk attracted many health-conscious audiences and was well received. At the Tea Meditation area which was permeated with an atmosphere of Chan’, the audience were shown the proper way to prepare tea by the tea servers and were introduced to the types of tea and the benefits of tea drinking. Many of the audience participated in Tea Meditation for the first time and were intrigued by it.

The 2018 FGS New Zealand Vegefest, the people responded well to the Vege Plan A and fully participated in the Vegefest in a joyous mood despite being inconvenienced by the rain. Though they had to put in great effort, the people involved, i.e. the guests, the stall operators and the volunteers, were all happy for an event well received.