Ceremony to celebrate the birthday of Maitreya Buddha at Santa Temple at Mount Wutai, in Shanxi province, Feb 8 [Photo/wutaishanfojiao.com]

There was a ritual at Santa Temple at Mount Wutai, in Shanxi province, on Feb 8, also the first day of the first Lunar month, to celebrate the birthday of Maitreya Buddha and to pray for the people of Taiwan who had suffered from a recent earthquake.

With offerings of lighting candles, the ceremony, presided by Changhai, chief monk of the temple, attracted a large number of Buddhists who chanted sutras and prayed for world peace, prosperity, happiness and good harvests.

Candles arranged in Chinese characters to pray for the people of Taiwan who suffered from a recent earthquake. [Photo/wutaishanfojiao.com]

They also prayed for peace for the dead and happiness for the survivors of the Taiwan earthquake. They blessed Taiwan people?to be away from disasters, rebuild their hometown after the earthquake and have a better life.

On Feb 6, a 6.7-magnitude earthquake hit the city of Kaohsiung in Taiwan, just two days ahead of the traditional Lunar New Year, which left 116 dead and?over 550 injured and caused huge property losses.