#### Honoring the Heavens in China2 photos

The celebration of “Tian Kuang Ze” takes place on the sixth day of the sixth lunar month, which is considered a numerologically significant day.

This festival is dedicated to the God of Heaven and serves as a day for gratitude and prayer. All members of the family gather together for a special ritual meal. They slaughter livestock, prepare special dumplings, and burn paper and incense.

This celebration is also known as “The Worship of the Protector of Insects and Worms.”

During this time, people pray that the deities will not bring forth any pests. In the past, and perhaps even today in some villages, people would wash, iron, and dry clothes and books, bathe their livestock, and treat items with special treatments to repel insects.