The first time I ever heard of a Lantern Fest was when @skipt07 posted some photos a while back. A friend of mine clued me into this event at our local Japanese Museum. Today was the event. It was truly beautiful, and the weather was perfect.
These are the lanterns that people have prepared. Later in the evening, they are lit and sent afloat in the lake. Each lantern is dedicated to a departed loved one.
I put a note on the boat that ends the festival. I dedicated it to my dad. Since it was my birthday and we are approaching 4 months after his death, I plan to spend the week uploading photos from this festival.
Here is the Japanese tradition:
Obon is one of the most important holidays in Japanese culture, and is a time of year when families welcome the spirits of the ancestors into their homes for a brief visit among their living descendants. On the last day of the three-day observance, families gather with the community to light the way back to the otherworld for the departing ancestors with floating lanterns called toro nagashi, or with large fires lit on the slopes of nearby mountains since the otherworld is traditionally regarded as lying beyond the sea or mountains. The ancestors are believed to depart for the otherworld guided by the illuminated lanterns and farewell fires. Each year Morikami celebrates Lantern Festival: In the Spirit of Obon with 1,000 handmade toro nagashi, each one with bearing inscription from our guests.
What a special event and love the colors. I'd never heard of one of these but sounds like it would be an amazing sight. Looking forward to all of the rest of your pics from it.
From a photographic view, I like the diagonal composition, the bright colors and the repetitive shapes of the bags. Really, though, I like the larger meaning and symbolism of these offering to the ancestors. Lovely.
What a meaningful way to spend your birthday, Danette! I worked my way backward from your other photos to this...so colorful in the light of day! They made for some beautiful photos, and the event must have been very interestingt
Happy Birthday Danette! I am truly sorry for missing your series. Are these lanterns massed produced or is each one uniquely different? I see like colors but can't tell if the markings are the same.
@skipt07 They had 1000 lanterns that sold for $10 each. They were blank. Each person wrote on the lantern what they chose. They sold little slips of paper to go in the boat for $1. You could also write a message on the paper. I just did the slip in the boat. There were so many people there. You could, technically, get a seat with a view from many locations, but to be closer to the boat would be great. I only brought my smaller lens. After being there once and seeing all the photographers with their equipment and backpacks and small tri-pods, I can be better prepared next time. I know they are fussy about what equipment you are allowed to bring in. It was a great ceremony! We missed the fireworks because we wanted to be able to get out of the parking lot, but that didn't work! Took us 38 minutes to get out!
