Local residents queue up to get "Laba Porridge" doled out by Pilu Temple in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province on January 26, 2007.

Laba, the eight day of the 12th month in the lunar calendar, falls on this Friday this year. The tradition of having "Laba Porridge" on this day began long ago with the tale of the Sakyamuni. He was fed with porridge by a shepherdess after he fainted at the roadside after days of travel in India without food and water. He recovered quickly and attained buddhahood underneath a bodhi tree. Therefore, the day was first commemorated in temples and porridge doled out to thank the mortal who saved his life. Later the folks also have porridge on the day to wish for good luck.

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(Xinhua News Agency January 27, 2007)