As the Year of the Horse approaches, the renowned Buddhist sanctuary Fo Guang Shan Hsi Lai Temple in the United States is once again holding its annual New Year blessing activities. The festivities will feature a wide array of folk customs, cultural, artistic, and religious events, inviting people of all ethnic backgrounds to joyfully welcome the new year together.
According to China News Service, on the morning of the 4th local time, Fo Guang Shan Hsi Lai Temple, located in Los Angeles County, California, held its 2026 Spring Festival press conference at Xiangyun Hall, announcing the schedule for this Year of the Horse’s lunar new year celebrations.
In his speech, Hsi Lai Temple abbot Venerable Hui Dong shared that the calligraphy work gifted for the 2026 Spring Festival by Fo Guang Shan's founder, Master Hsing Yun, is “Harmonious Coexistence, Swift Success,” encouraging all to be kind, prosper together, and walk towards a shared and beautiful future.
Venerable Hui Dong noted that “Harmonious Coexistence, Swift Success” is not merely a festive greeting but also a path to walk in harmony and strive amidst co-existence. This year’s Peace Lantern Festival adopts this very theme, echoing Master Hsing Yun’s words: “The best relationship between people is coexistence.” During the Spring Festival, Hsi Lai Temple guides the public towards the joint goal of world peace—starting from joyful hearts, harmonious families, mutual respect, and social harmony—through dharma assemblies, cultural performances, and community interactions.
This year, Hsi Lai Temple’s New Year blessing activities will commence with the “Year-End Universal Dharma Assembly” on the eve of February 16th. The Peace Lantern Festival, starting the same day, will run through the fifteenth day of the new lunar month. On Lunar New Year’s Day, a “New Year Thousand Buddhas Offering Assembly” and a New Year’s cultural performance will be held. In addition, the temple will host a food and garden fair, as well as the “Galloping the Right Path” Year of the Horse Art Exhibition, continuing its long-standing tradition of blending Buddhist heritage, Chinese folk customs, and cultural arts.
According to organizers, during the Spring Festival, Hsi Lai Temple will also offer events such as striking the Peace Bell, lighting lanterns for blessings, and offering incense for peace, enabling people of all backgrounds to experience the festive spirit and the beauty of Chinese culture. Together in the new year, everyone can cultivate kindness, find inner peace, and welcome a bright future.