Yulanpen Festival

The Yulanpen Festival, also known as the Zhongyuan Festival, is a significant celebration in Buddhism, typically observed on the fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month. This festival’s origins are closely linked to the story of Mulian rescuing his mother. Mulian was one of the ten disciples of Shakyamuni Buddha, who, upon attaining enlightenment, discovered that his deceased mother was suffering in the realm of hungry ghosts. He sought help from the Buddha, who instructed him to prepare offerings on the fifteenth day of the seventh month during the monks’ retreat, thus accruing merit to liberate his mother and all beings. This established the Yulanpen Festival as an important occasion for Buddhists to express filial piety and to assist the souls of the deceased.

The festival’s origins can be traced back to ancient India, but in China, it became popular alongside the spread of Buddhism during the Eastern Han period. This celebration not only serves as a remembrance of deceased loved ones but also prompts profound reflection on the nature of life and the practice of compassion. By making offerings to the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha, adherents hope to liberate the souls of the departed and pray for the well-being of their living parents and all sentient beings.

On the day of the Yulanpen Festival, Buddhist practitioners hold ceremonies, preparing sumptuous offerings to place in the Yulan basin, dedicated to the Three Jewels and all sentient beings. This ritual not only honors those who have passed but also embodies the Buddhist principles of “self-benefit and benefiting others, achieving enlightenment in practice.” Additionally, participants recite the Yulanpen Sutra, praying for the departed to find relief from suffering and for the living to enjoy enduring happiness.