The Mid-Autumn Festival, popularly known as the Mooncake Festival, is widely celebrated among the Chinese communities throughout the world. It is also celebrated among the Vietnamese, Japanese and Korean communities. It is the second most important festival after the Chinese New Year Celebration to the Chinese people. In ancient China, mooncakes were a kind of offering to the moon. Over time, these special cakes have become the most popular food of the Mid-Autumn Festival. The Chinese people believe a full moon is a symbol of peace, prosperity and family reunion. On the Mid-Autumn Festival night the moon is at its brightest and fullest, which is why the festival is also known as the “Reunion Day”.
On the eve of IBC 11th convocation, on Saturday, September 22, 2018, the whole IBC family along with students, staff, volunteers, faculty members, friends from overseas and local, Venerables, Vice Rector, Rector and with the presence of IBC founder and Council Chair, the Most Ven. Dr. Wei Wu, celebrated the Mid-Autumn Festival (Mooncake Festival) with many varieties of activities such as decorating IBC with various types of lanterns, walking and carrying colorful, brightly lit lanterns around the IBC campus, releasing floating candle light with Loi Krathong into the pond, playing games, evening refreshment, karaoke, singing IBC theme song and other songs and many such performances made the program meaningful, enjoyable and memorable.
Program was celebrated truly in an international atmosphere arranged by our international young students adding their own traditional and national customs and cultures into the event making it an International Mooncake Festival. Program MC, Ven. Henrik and Ven Winnie began the celebration by paying homage to the Triple Gem. Then some organizing committee members introduced about the Mooncake Festival or similar festivals celebrated in their own countries around the same time. Ven. Henrik spoke similar sort of festival that is celebrated in Germany, Sis. Chong Lee Suan explained how Mooncake festival is observed in greater China, Sis. Dalipru Marma explained how Mooncake festival like event is celebrated among the Indigenous Marma community of Chittagong Hill Tract of Bangladesh, Sis. Phyo Pyae Sone Kyaw spoke how the ceremony is held in Myanmar.
The Most Ven. Wei Wu explained the significance of Mid-Autumn festival in terms of crops harvesting and family union among the communities. Roundness of the moon symbolizes completeness and togetherness. Venerable further added that the festival is held on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese calendar, on the night of the full moon between early September and early October of the Gregorian calendar.
We are really thankful to shifu Ven. Wei Wu, all the senior Professors, faculty members, staff, students, local and overseas guests for their precious time and support being with us and of course, to all the organizing committee members for their tremendous effort, support and contribution to make the Mooncake Festival a successful one.
