Welcoming the Lunar New Year with Neighbors: Hsi Lai Temple Hosts Festive Community Friendship Banquet

By Chu Yen-ching | BLIA World Headquarters, Los Angeles

On February 7, 2026, Fo Guang Shan Hsi Lai Temple hosted its annual Neighborhood Appreciation Banquet, welcoming more than 400 local residents, community leaders, and distinguished guests to celebrate the Lunar New Year together. Filled with warmth and festive joy, the event highlighted the temple’s strong ties with the surrounding community while promoting the values of peace, harmony, coexistence, and mutual prosperity. Through this celebration, Hsi Lai Temple continued its mission of integrating Buddhist wisdom into everyday life and fostering a caring, compassionate community.

The evening opened with an energetic lion dance performance by the Northern Shaolin Kung Fu Team, accompanied by the lively beat of drums and cymbals. Hsi Lai Temple Abbot Venerable Huidong welcomed everyone and expressed his sincere appreciation to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the Los Angeles County Fire Department for their support in ensuring public safety and smooth traffic during the Lunar New Year festivities. He emphasized that a safe and thriving community is built upon mutual care and cooperation and wished everyone a harmonious and successful Year of the Horse with the blessing, “Harmony and Co-existence, Galloping Towards Success.”

The banquet brought together numerous distinguished guests, including Glenn Emery, Chief of the Industry Sheriff’s Station of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department; Melissa Hammond, Captain of the California Highway Patrol Santa Fe Springs Area Office; Dan Masajo, Captain of Los Angeles County Fire Station 91; along with educational and community leaders.

Among them were John Roach, Superintendent of the Hacienda La Puente Unified School District, and Gino Kwok, Esq., President of the Board of Education, who shared the district’s commitment to supporting families and strengthening community partnerships. They commended Hsi Lai Temple for its longstanding dedication to serving the local community and promoting diversity and inclusion. David Fang, President of the Hacienda Heights Improvement Association, also encouraged the temple and neighborhood to continue working together in mutual support.

Echo Tsai, President of the BLIA Los Angeles Chapter, remarked that seeing residents from diverse cultural backgrounds gather to celebrate together reflected the warmth and unity of the community. “This is Humanistic Buddhism naturally expressed in daily life,” she said. “It allows kindness to continue flourishing throughout the community and enables everyone to feel genuinely cared for.”

Dr. Minh Ta, President of University of the West, welcomed community members to explore educational opportunities at the university. She noted that the university is founded upon the principles of Humanistic Buddhism, emphasizing character development and holistic education while nurturing socially responsible future leaders.

Members of BLIA Young Adult Division II presented a lively musical performance of “It’s Wonderful to Have You”, conveying the spirit of the Three Acts of Goodness by encouraging kindness to begin within the family and extend throughout society.

The evening featured a wide variety of cultural and interactive activities. In addition to dragon and lion dances, musical performances, and raffle drawings, guests enjoyed hands-on lantern making, tea meditation experiences, and Chinese calligraphy. These activities allowed participants to celebrate the Lunar New Year while experiencing the beauty of traditional Chinese culture and the peaceful spirit of Chan. The raffle drawing created an especially lively atmosphere filled with laughter and excitement.

Many attendees shared their appreciation for the event. Longtime local residents Chris and Mike Gallagher said that Hsi Lai Temple has become an important landmark in the community and that events like the Neighborhood Appreciation Banquet help neighbors get to know one another and strengthen community bonds.

First-time attendee Kathy, who came with her sister Monica, said the evening’s Blessing Service and the welcoming atmosphere left her feeling peaceful and genuinely cared for. Monica added, “This is exactly the kind of positive energy our community needs right now.”

The evening concluded with Venerable Huidong leading everyone into the Main Shrine for a Light Offering Blessing Service. Participants recited the English version of the Heart Sutra together, followed by Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s “Prayer for Light Offering.” Together they prayed for peace, safety, and good fortune in the coming year, hoping that the light of wisdom, compassion, and goodwill would continue to illuminate every corner of the community.

Photo Captions (Photos 1–10 by Chang Chih-cheng)