Could you please introduce the origin and folk customs of the Buddha's Birthday Festival in Hong Kong?

Buddha's Birthday Festival generally refers to Buddha's Bath Festival.

The Buddha Bathing Festival on the eighth day of the fourth lunar month is an important festival for Buddhists in China to commemorate the birth of Sakyamuni Buddha, also known as Buddha Birthday Festival, Buddha Irrigation Festival, Dragon Boat Festival and Huayan Festival. According to the history of China, the Buddha's birthday is the 24th year of the week (BC 1027). When Sakyamuni was born from Mrs. Mo Ye's rib, he pointed to the sky and said, "Heaven and the world, I am the only one." So the earth shook, and Kowloon spat and bathed. Therefore, Buddhists of all countries and nationalities usually take a bath to commemorate the Buddha's birthday.

Buddha's Birthday is the day when Buddhism was introduced into the north to commemorate and celebrate the birth of Sakyamuni, the founder of Buddhism. Buddha's Birthday Festival is also called Bath Buddha Festival, Buddha Irrigation Festival, Longhua Festival and Huayan Festival. Since ancient times, Buddhist temples have held a series of grand bathing ceremonies and celebrations on that day, praying for the Buddha to benefit the society and eliminate disasters, and inviting monks to open an altar to preach. Buddhists will review and learn from the Buddha's merciful teachings on this day.

Historically, due to the conversion of calendars in different places, according to different Buddhist scriptures and traditions spread to different regions, the Gregorian calendar dates may have a great gap. Most northern Buddhist countries have been influenced by China to some extent. As far as China is concerned, its calendar thinks that the eighth day of the fourth lunar month is the most auspicious day, so Buddha's birthday is usually set on this day!