To honor Sakyamuni's attainment of Buddhahood. Legend has it that Siddhartha Gautama, before he became a Buddha, traveled through the mountains and rivers in search of the true meaning of life.

One day, he traveled to a deserted place, due to long-distance trekking overworked, coupled with a long period of time without food, physical exhaustion fainted. At this time, a goat-herding girl happened to pass by and saw Siddhartha lying on the ground, cooked the dry food he was carrying into porridge and fed him, thus Siddhartha was saved.

Afterwards, Siddhartha sat under the Bodhi tree and realized the truth, and became a Buddha. This day happens to be the eighth day of the Lunar New Year. After the introduction of Buddhism to China, in order to worship Sakyamuni became Buddha, temples all over the country in this day to cook porridge relief for the poor, many celebrities and rich businessmen have followed suit, so gradually become the custom of the region.

According to the Song Dynasty "Mengliang Records" records, Dashasi Temple and other temples in the Lahai this day are set up five flavors of congee, called 'Lahai congee'. During this period, congee started to become a folk custom, and even the emperors of the time used it to enlist their ministers.

To the Qing Dynasty, the Yongzheng three years of Shi Zong will be Beijing An Dingmen in the State Prison to the east of the residence changed to the Yonghe Palace, every Laha day, in the palace Wanfugong and other places, with pots and pans to cook Laha porridge and invited to Lama monks chanting sutras, and then will be porridge to the ministers of the Royal Palace, tasting and eating in order to degree of festivity.