Mooncake Festival or Mid-Autumn Festival in International Buddhist College 2023

Reported by Ms. She Tengyuan, BA4 student

The Mooncake Festival, also known as the Mid-Autumn Festival or Zhongqiujie (中秋节) in Chinese, is one of the most celebrated and culturally significant festivals in East Asia. It falls on the 15th day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar, which usually corresponds to September or October in the Gregorian calendar. This festival has a rich history and deep cultural meaning that spans centuries.

The origins of the Mooncake Festival can be traced back to ancient China. It is closely associated with several historical and cultural elements:
1. Harvest Festival: Historically, the festival was a time to celebrate the bountiful harvest of crops, particularly rice and wheat. It marked the end of the agricultural season, and people gathered to give thanks for the year's harvest.
2. Moon Worship: The Mooncake Festival is also a time for moon worship. In traditional Chinese culture, the moon is a symbol of harmony, unity, and family reunion. People believed that the moon was at its fullest and brightest on this night.

Therefore, International Buddhist College created a joyful and peaceful festival atmosphere on campus, bringing together all faculty, teachers and students to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival on 29th September 2023.

First of all, the Mid-Autumn Festival activities started grandly with a sincere welcome speech, and the warm campus was filled with a strong festive atmosphere. Then Ven. Dipananda led us in the chanting of the Theravāda tradition, followed by chanting of the Mahāyāna tradition led by Ven. Yao Zhong and finally, chanting of the Vajrayana tradition led by Ven. Khenpo Chonyi Rangdrol. The chantings of the three lineages in Pali, Chinese, and Tibetan respectively, sent the most auspicious blessings for the Mid-Autumn Festival to all beings in the Dharma Realm.

Subsequently, Prof. Kapila Abhayawansa and Ven. Geshe Gelek shared their words of wisdom regarding the festival. Our former MA student, Ms. Mali, who joined us also took the opportunity to share with us how the Koreans celebrated the festival. Besides that, the students also shared the origins of the Mid-Autumn festival in English and Chinese.

We then had light dinner and refreshments prepared by our cooks and students. Prof. Tilak, one of our professors also entertained us with a few songs which put everyone present in a happy mood. This was followed by Q & A and “Guessing the lantern fans” sessions. Everyone who guessed the lantern fans correctly received gifts, and the smiles on their faces seemed to reflect their return to childhood.

Finally, we participated in the lantern procession. This turned out to be a memorable activity! Lanterns, like the full moon, are round and symmetrical in shape, symbolizing completeness and family reunion. Lanterns play an important role in the Mooncake Festival and are closely linked to the cultural and symbolic meaning of the festival. As the festival was celebrated on the 15th day of the lunar month, when the moon was round and bright, the lanterns helped IBC members enjoy the outdoor activities and enabled them to admire the beauty of the moon. Lighting lanterns together reinforces the idea of togetherness and unity. They serve as a source of illumination, a symbol of completeness and full enlightenment. Families and friends often gather during the Mooncake Festival, and the lanterns serve as a visual representation of the bonds that tie the IBC family together.

We took a group photo before the celebration ended around 7:30 pm. Last but not least, we would like to express our appreciation to everyone for your direct and indirect support towards this simple but meaningful celebration. May all be well and happy always!

NOTE:
Please find your Mooncake Celebration photos from the link below:
https://ibc-elibrary.thanhsiang.org/node/1037