Guanyin Festival of Alu Ancient Cave in Luxi County, Honghe

February 19th in lunar calender is the birthday of Guanyin, one of the Four Great Bodhisattva(观世音菩萨). Believers of Buddhism in Luxi(泸西in Chinese) will gather together in Alu Ancient Cave(阿庐古洞in Chinese) and hold the grand Guanyin Temple Fair on this day. It is seen as the most solemn Buddhist ceremony in Luxi as it consists several activities including chanting Buddhism scriptures and praying for happiness and health by burning the incense and worshiping Guanyin and other Buddhas, releasing captive animals.

It is said that the Alu Ancient Cave(阿庐古洞). In 1995, the character “blessing” (福in Chinese) was carved on the top of the cave under guidance of Venerable Zhenchan (真禅长老in Chinese). On 18 November 2006, Venerable Shichonghua (释崇化大师in Chinese), vice president of The Buddhist Association of Yunnan(云南省佛教协), presented to appreciate the scene when Guanyin Statue in Alu Ancient Cave was surrounded by halo of Buddha, and wrote the inscription “The peculiar scene in the cave is of halos and fortune”(洞府奇观，祥光瑞气.)

The biggest Buddhist activity in Luxi(泸西in Chinese) among 500 years, Consecration Ceremony for the Furnace was held on February 19th in lunar calender which is also March 26th in solar calendar this year in Caiyun Hall (彩云大厅in Chinese) of Alu Ancient Cave. leading over 30 monks, Venerable Zhenyuan (贞圆大师in Chinese) held the consecration ceremony for the furnace, and other activities including chanting Buddhism scriptures and praying for happiness and health.

Two abbots led the absiheca ceremony in the Absiheca Fair(甘露灌顶法会), and monks were spraying the water over pilgrims to pray for fortune. At 10:08, the blessed moment, two abbots held the consecration ceremony for the furnace curved with the inscription “The peculiar scene in the cave is of halos and fortune”(“祥光瑞气”) Later, monks kneed down and burnt the incense in front of the furnace.

Karma” is a significant definition in the Buddhism. It is surprising that when it comes to 14:08 when people were chanting the scriptures, Venerable Zhenyuan（贞圆大师in Chinese）at the age of 110 were leading monks into the cave, the sky became clear almost immediately. A beam of halo went through the crevice on the cave and presented an auspicious scene. Monks and pilgrims put their palms together and chanting the “Amitabha”, made it more sacred. As time went by, the holy light was gradually fading away, and ultimately disappeared when it reached ampulla in front of Guanyin at 14:28. All participating monks and pilgrims were astonished at the mystery.