SATV Jan 7, Kathmandu:In a tribute to the day Gautam Buddha consumed rice pudding, a special Prasad offering ceremony was organized by Huayan Chongqing Temple and Xin Yue International Meditation Center in Kathmandu.

According to Buddhist tradition, before attaining enlightenment, Siddhartha Gautam spent years in extreme austerity and hardship. Realizing that such severe practices were not the path to wisdom, he encountered a shepherd girl who offered him milk. It is believed that after consuming the milk, he attained enlightenment. To honor this, Buddhists commemorate the event with rituals, preparing and consuming rice pudding under the Bodhi tree on the eighth day of the lunar month of La.

Today’s event marked this significant occasion, often referred to as the "Laba Festival," which is considered as important as the Chinese New Year. Organizers highlighted its cultural and spiritual value.

The ceremony witnessed participation from people across various professions, ethnicities, religions, and communities, reflecting the event's universal appeal and significance.