Water lantern
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A water lantern is a type of lamp that floats on the surface of the water. It is also known as a floating lamp, river lamp or lake lamp, depending on the water body on which it is floated. The water lantern originated in India and later spread to other parts of South Asia, Southeast Asia and East Asia due to the influence of Hindu-Buddhist cultural diffusion.
South Asia and Southeast Asia
The water lamps in the Indian culture is seen in various traditional festivals and sacrifices, especially the festivals on the full moon day or Purnimas like the festivals on
, etc., have simple lamps and are made of plant materials such as flowers and leaves. The main meaning of the water lights in these areas is to worship the gods, send away the disasters, and welcome happiness. Some young men and women will also pray for a good marriage with water lamps. Water lanterns are also believed of guiding the souls in the water.Vietnam
In Vietnam, water lanterns are known as đèn hoa đăng, đèn giấy, released regularly in Hội An on the 1st, 14th, 15th day of the Vietnamese calendar and every Saturday.
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A kind of water lantern popular in Vietnam
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An old lady is selling water lanterns in Hội An
East Asia
China
As early as in the
Korea
In both Koreas, the water lantern is known as 유등 (yudeung: light).
Japan
Tōrō nagashi (灯籠流し or 灯篭流し) is a ceremony in which participants float
See also
- Spirit Boat Procession
- Mid-Autumn Festival
- Loi KrathongThai lantern festival
- Tazaungdaing Festival
- Diwali Indian light festival
- Zhong Yuan Festival
References
- ^ "Culture Insider: China's Ghost Festival". China Daily. 12 August 2022. Archived from the original on 25 August 2022.
- ^ Ito, Masami (August 13, 2013). "Lighting the way for o-Bon". The Japan Times.
External links
- Lantern Floating Hawaii Official site of Hawaii's largest Tōrō Nagashi ceremony, held on Memorial Day at Magic Island in Honolulu. Presented by Shinnyo-en Hawaii and the Na Lei Aloha Foundation.
- Tōrō Nagashi Video A videoblog entry from the 2006 Tōrō Nagashi ceremony in Honolulu.
- [1] Website of the San Francisco Bay Area Peace Lantern Ceremony, held annually since 2002.
- [2] Website of 'From Hiroshima to Hope', in Seattle, the largest commemoration of the bombing of Hiroshima outside Japan.
- History of the use of floating lanterns in South Korea (in Korean)