Visitors taste traditional laba porridge in Langzhong in southwest China’s Sichuan Province, yesterday, this year’s Laba Porridge Festival. In Chinese, “la” refers to the 12th month of the lunar calendar, and “ba” means “eight.” The festival heralds the beginning of the Chinese New Year season. For many, enjoying laba porridge — typically prepared with at least eight ingredients such as glutinous rice and red beans — is more than a cultural custom; it marks the start of the year-end countdown and serves as a meaningful prelude to new beginnings. There are various accounts explaining the origin of Laba Porridge Festival. Some trace it to Buddhist tradition, while others believe the red bean-based porridge can ward off evil from children. Another story suggests the dish commemorates a poor couple from ancient times. China News Service