Laba festival falls on the eighth day of the 12th month according to the Chinese lunar calendar. It is a Buddhist tradition of more than 1,000 years in China to eat porridge on Laba, the day Sakyamuni achieved immortality.

Cooks prepare Laba porridge made of 29 ingredients in the kitchen in Yonghegong Lama Temple before serving it to local residents in Beijing, January 15, 2008.

A Buddhist monk serves Laba porridge to local residents at Yonghegong Lama Temple in Beijing, January 15, 2008.

Buddhist monks serve Laba porridge to local residents at Yonghegong Lama Temple in Beijing, January 15, 2008.

Buddhist monks serve Laba porridge to local residents at Yonghegong Lama Temple in Beijing, January 15, 2008.

A visitor eats Laba porridge at Yonghegong Lama Temple in Beijing, January 15, 2008.

A visitor eats Laba porridge at Yonghegong Lama Temple in Beijing, January 15, 2008. A photographer takes pictures of the Yonghegong Lama Temple in Beijing amid morning mist, January 15, 2008.

(China Daily January 15, 2008)