Thousands Gather for 11th Annual Asia Fest with Dragon Boat Racing; Fo Guang Members Build Affinities Through Culture and Vegetarian Food

The Asia Fest features a diverse range of cultural performances, showcasing the richness and vibrancy of Asian cultures.

[Reported by Haikuo, North Carolina, USA] The 11th Annual Asia Fest with Dragon Boat Racing was held on September 19, 2026, at the Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary, North Carolina. The event attracted approximately 10,000 participants and featured 43 dragon boat teams, nearly 100 food and cultural booths, and 50 stage performances. Through dragon boat racing, Asian cuisine, cultural exhibits, and live performances, the festival showcased the rich diversity of Asian cultures.

The Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) North Carolina Chapter hosted cultural and vegetarian food booths at the festival. Approximately 45 Fo Guang members and members of BLIA Young Adult Division of North Carolina participated in the event, introducing festival visitors to the organization and its activities, hosting Buddhist trivia, distributing Dharma-connection gifts, and holding a vegetarian food charity sale.

The vegetarian food booth attracts a large number of visitors and remains bustling throughout the event.

The cultural booth featured posters highlighting Fo Guang Shan’s four objectives, Buddhist booklets, bookmarks featuring Dharma Words by Venerable Master Hsing Yun, and information about temple activities. For the first time, the booth also introduced “WOW! Buddhist Knowledge Trivia.” The bilingual questions covered topics including the Three Acts of Goodness, cause and effect, seated meditation, and gratitude. Through the trivia activities, volunteers shared Buddhist concepts with the public, attracting more than 400 participants. Throughout the event, more than 1,500 “Three Acts of Goodness” hand fans were distributed.

Fo Guang members enthusiastically introduce the temple’s activities and spiritual programs, sharing the philosophy and services of Fo Guang Shan and the Buddha’s Light International Association with the public.

Zhang Yin, who coordinated the trivia activities, noted that the event was not simply about answering questions. It also provided an opportunity for volunteers to learn about the public’s perspectives and naturally incorporate the Buddha’s teachings into their interactions—moving “from answering questions to chatting, and from chatting to developing affinities.”

The 11th Annual Asia Fest with Dragon Boat Racing is held on September 19, 2026, at the Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary, with 43 dragon boat teams participating in the competition.

The vegetarian food booth was equally bustling, with a steady stream of visitors throughout the day. Twelve types of vegetarian dishes and beverages were offered, including vegetarian curry cutlet rice, Vietnamese rice paper rolls, vegetarian sticky rice sausages, specialty cold noodles, pan-fried dumplings, snow-skin mooncakes, fruit jelly, and mango pomelo sago. The food was enthusiastically received, with nearly all items sold out by the end of the event.

For Zachary, who was encountering Buddhist culture for the first time, interactions at the food booth offered an opportunity to learn about aspects of Buddhism that were previously unfamiliar to him and sparked an interest in learning more. Volunteer Darren Wheeling noted that while it is difficult to engage in in-depth conversations with every visitor at such a large festival, the event provides an important opportunity for people to gain an initial understanding of Buddhism and Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Temple, North Carolina. Flyers, booklets, and website information also introduce visitors to the temple as a place for spiritual practice.

BLIA North Carolina vegetarian food booth offers twelve types of dishes and beverages, including vegetarian curry cutlet rice, Vietnamese rice paper rolls, vegetarian sticky rice sausages, specialty cold noodles, pan-fried dumplings, snow-skin mooncakes, and mango pomelo sago.

Jared Li, Director General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Atlanta, expressed his pleasure at seeing the Buddha’s Light International Association take root in North Carolina, providing more local residents with an opportunity to experience the hope and inspiration that religion can offer. He also looked forward to continued cooperation with BLIA in the future.

BLIA North Carolina Chapter President Gee Chia stated that from the initial preparations through the day of the event, Fo Guang members worked with a shared commitment and supported one another, demonstrating the spirit of “collective creation.” Through Buddhist trivia, sharing the Buddha’s teachings in everyday life, and offering vegetarian food, Fo Guang members reached out to the community, interacted with the public, and developed affinities. She said that being able to work together as a team and broadly develop good affinities was the most precious harvest from participating in this year’s Asia Fest.

Venerable Miao Jou encouraged everyone, saying that every time we reach out to the community, we have an opportunity to bring Humanistic Buddhism and the Buddha’s wisdom to the public. This, she emphasized, is the mission of every disciple of the Buddha.

Members of the BLIA North Carolina Young Adult Division assist with Buddhist trivia activities and distribute Dharma-connection gifts, developing affinities with the public.

The Buddhist trivia goes beyond simply answering questions, providing an opportunity for volunteers to exchange ideas and understand the public’s perspectives. From answering questions to chatting, and from chatting to developing affinities, the Buddha’s teachings are naturally integrated into the interaction.