Have you ever written your wish on a gorgeous lantern, muttered a small prayer and released it into the sky or floated it on the water? My husband insisted that we do this on our anniversary in Hoi An in Vietnam and turn the occasion into a celebration of love, happiness, and benison. We picked a vibrant red lantern to symbolize good fortune, as suggested by the lady who sold it to us. At first, I was not sure if I really wanted to participate in the ceremonial act as I was enjoying being in the moment, but as the evening progressed, the lanterns-lit ambiance casted a spell on me. I was drawn to the energy, the warmth and the colours of the beautifully crafted lanterns in all sizes. Everyone around us was floating their hand-made lanterns and casting their wishes into the air. While it is difficult to relive the flurry of emotions in words, picture this: the whole river illuminated by a sea of gorgeous lanterns, and the reflections enhancing the splendor. We felt blessed to be a part of this picturesque spectacle where the lanterns stood as a testament to a craftsmanship that has survived centuries. To the uninitiated, I must reveal that sunsets in Hoi An are meant to be spent by the Thu Bon River to see the lantern-lit wonderland. And on the full moon day (which happens once a month), Hoi An turns into an ethereal land.
Ever since I have returned from Vietnam, I have been curious to know about the other lamp festivals that take place around the world, and have been scouring for information to establish the intercultural exchange between communities. I also spoke to friends who live in different countries to understand what these lantern festivals meant to them. Most of them had nostalgia associated with them which reminded them of family, food, and traditions. My most significant takeaway has been that these festivals of light make for a perfect reason to surrender to nature, to have faith, and to let go of worries. And while many of these light festivals may be different in their approach, they have one thing in common- they bring people together.
To the discerning travellers, these festivals are a way to peek into the local folk culture. They are the most opportune time to learn about the authentic cuisine of the region. And if they are keen on participation, there couldn’t be a better way to learn about the ancient traditions and rituals that have passed down through generations. In the present times, many of these festivals have also become a sweet blend of tradition and technology, leaving the people enamored by the offerings of innovation and creativity. Also, most of the countries have been trying to emphasize on the use of only biodegradable lamps made from eco-friendly rice paper.
It is difficult to pin down the history of lantern making and what turned lantern releasing into a celebration but every culture gives credit to the intercultural exchange that has been taking place through centuries. It is presumed that the festival dates back to the ancient Eastern Han Dynasty (250-220) where it was used as military signals to communicate far away. Other legends suggest that the monks used lamps to honour Buddha and soon it also became popular as a way to worship the heavens, with people lighting lanterns to pray for a good harvest. There goes a story that Emperor Ming liked the act of the Buddhist monks decorating temples with lanterns on the 15th day of the first lunar month, he also instructed the entire palace and temples to be lit with lanterns. In some places, the lamps and lanterns have been used to commemorate the ancestors and pay respect to them. It is also said that when the Iranian and Chinese worlds met, the influence led to the birth of lantern festival (acknowledged by UNESCO).
My interaction with the local communities also suggested that lantern festival spread to different countries through traders and merchants who travelled through Silk Route and settled in the newer destinations. The influence of Zoroastrianism, Buddhism and Daoism also played a role in spreading these festivals. Soon local customs and practices were incorporated and each place began to celebrate the festival differently. However, the essence of it all remains the same. Festival of Lights is a great way of hoping for the best for future. We too light lamps and float diyas (earthen lamps) in India on some of the special days or when we visit holy rivers. Apart from ‘Deepawali in India’ and ‘Full Moon Lantern festival in Vietnam’, here are some of the lanterns and lights festivals that I would like to travel for.
- The Taiwan Lantern Festival
It is one of the most popular festivals in Taiwan and is celebrated as an extension of the Lunar New Year (mid of Feb or early March). Itis is celebrated annually on the 15th day of the first month of the lunar calendar. With the whole country coming together, an immersive and festive fervor takes over several cities in Taiwan. The markets turn into a sea of colour, history, and tradition. Technology and innovation can also be seen at its best as huge illuminations and large-scale light displays occupy the heart of the cities. Varieties of events and activities take place at the regional and national level over a period of a few weeks but the festival is popularly associated with the name Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival as Pingxi is a district of New Taipei City where centuries-old traditions are honored by launching hundreds of illuminated lanterns in the sky. This year, the Taiwan Lantern Festival was celebrated with the theme of “Light Gathering in Thousands of Ponds and Stringing Taoyuan”. This is also the time when both Chinese and Taiwanese traditions come into play. This year, the celebrations began on 12th Feb and will continue until Sunday 23 February. Yuanxiao, a traditional Chinese food made with glutinous rice flour and sweet fillings consumed as part of the Lantern Festival celebrations is a must try.
- Shinnyo Lantern Floating Hawaii Ceremony
This festival is celebrated on the Memorial Day in the month of May. The festival honors both Buddhist and Hawaiian traditions by floating hundreds of hand-decorated lanterns on the Pacific Ocean. The festival was started 25 years ago to light lanterns in honor of people who have passed away and to unite the hope of harmony and peace. The term “shinnyo” refers to the Buddhist concept and furthers the belief that there is light in each one of us. The prayers of those living are passed on to those who are no more, through this very unique and simple festival.
- Rise Lantern Festival
It is a collective art, music and lights festival that takes place on the beautiful Jean Dry Lake Bed in Las Vegas, Nevada. The festival is newest and hardly ten years old. It claims to be the largest sky lantern ceremony. The sky turns magical when people in thousands come together to launch their lanterns. While several artistic aesthetics are added to the festival, it also reminds the participants to treasure the past while embracing the adventures ahead. The rise lantern festival is also accompanied by musical evenings.
- Yi Peng or Yee Peng Lantern Festival
This is a popular festival of Chiang Mai and people from around the world travel there to immerse in the sight of thousands of fire-lit lanterns floating in the night sky. Yi Peng takes place each year in mid to late November, during the full moon on the second month of the Lanna calendar. People launch their lanterns with a prayer to offset the bad lucks and misfortunes in the coming year. This festival is also related to the change of season, where the people make a wish for dark and rainy days being replaced by the sunnier days. Also, the Yi Peng festival coincides with the famous Loy Krothong festival. In the latter, “khom loy”, or “floating lanterns” are released in water.
- Nagasaki Lantern Festival
A trip to Japan has been on my mind for the longest time. What better way than to indulge in a lantern festival? This is the time when the Japanese city is immersed in the glow of immersive and fascinating lanterns. The decoration is accompanied by large-scale local participation and entertainment. Emperor parade, dragon dances, acrobatics, lion dancing and mask changing shows are part of the local celebrations. The origin of the festival goes back to the Chinese settlers who started it as a spring festival to celebrate the Chinese New Year, but with time, it came to be associated with winters in Nagasaki. For many, it is also an opportunity to see winter in a whole new (and beautifully illuminated) light. You may plan a January trip to Japan with this one.
Apart from these, there are two more light festivals which do not involve lanterns but also entail fascinating fusion of devotion and artistry. One, there is ‘Butter Lamp Festival in Tibet’ where monks come together to chant prayers in harmony, and communities come together to light butter lamps. The other one is ‘Taunggyi Tazaungdaing Festival in Myanmar’ which involves massive hot air balloons. Beautiful decorated balloons are released day and night during the festival season. This one is also associated with Buddhism and the release of the balloons signifies releasing sins and praying for better future.
How can we reduce the environmental damages?
With all these lantern festivals, there also comes the challenge of creating a lot of environmental waste. We cannot negate the reality nor run away from these situations. While festivals give us a reason to meet, laugh and celebrate, we cannot be casuing harm to the surroundings. How do we deal with these? All at once, we can’t be running a campaign against these festivals but the aim should be to lessen the waste and use only those materials which can be recycled and upcycled.
