The first legend is that the Collection of Buddhist Scriptures said that Sakyamuni had been ascetic for six years before becoming a monk. Not only did he get nothing, but he was exhausted physically and mentally, so he gave up asceticism, accepted the chyle offered by the shepherdess, recovered his physical strength, sat quietly under the bodhi tree, and finally moved towards the right path of wisdom liberation.

This day happens to be the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month. Since Sakyamuni became a monk on this day, the temple cooked porridge for the Buddha on this day with cereals such as rice and beans and dried fruits such as dates, millet and lotus seeds.

The second legend is that the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month is the day when Sakyamuni, the founder of Buddhism, became a monk. Therefore, on the day of Laba, ancient temples would cook porridge with fruits, vegetables and rice to worship the gods and buddhas, which was honored as "Buddha porridge". After offering porridge to the Buddha, they distributed it to the poor. With the spread of Buddhism, eating Laba porridge has gradually become a folk custom.

In the Southern Song Dynasty, "Laba porridge" was a popular food among the people, which was not only offered to Buddha, but also given to each other. The great poet Lu You's poem: "At present, the Buddha porridge is in harmony with the tomb, and the matter in Jiangcun is more important" is a proof.

Laba Festival is described in detail as follows:

The annual traditional festival, Laba Festival is coming. Laba is an extremely important festival in China, because it is not only a typical festival with China folk culture tradition, but also a festival originated from Buddhism. From the first day of the twelfth lunar month to the eighth day, you can drink hot Laba porridge in major temples in Hangzhou.