Thousands will flock to the Borobudur Temple in Central Java 29 May to partake in Vesak Day, a celebration of Buddha’s birth, marked by processions, bell-ringing rituals and the release of 1,000 lanterns to the sky to symbolize enlightenment for the entire world.
Lantern festivals, including Vesak Day, are not only full of significant meaning, but also have the ability to bring people from various backgrounds together with its visual spectacle. Luckily for those traveling in Asia, these happen year-round. Here are some highlights from Agoda:
Hoi An Festival, Vietnam
This lantern festival is celebrated along the riverfront during the full moon of each month in Hoi An. Electricity is shut down during the festival, turning the city into a vision of lanterns and flickering candles. Locals float decorated lanterns on the river, as homage to their ancestors.
Stay at Cashew Tree Bungalow, a bright and breezy beachside property in Hoi An that is within commuting distance to the festival activities.
Mid-Autumn Festival, Singapore
Also known as Mooncake Festival or Zhong Qiu Jie, this harvest festival falls on the 8th month of the lunar calendar. Houses are decorated with red lanterns while families hold gatherings with mooncakes and fragrant teas. Chinatown in Singapore celebrates this event with hundreds of red lanterns hung throughout the area.
Head to The Scarlet Singapore and stay in the midst of the festival action.
Diwali Festival, India
Diwali, the festival of lights, is the biggest – and most important – festival for Hindus, but also celebrated by Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains, marking the triumph of good over evil. The celebration involves the lighting of diyas (lamps) and taking part in pooja (prayers) to wish for health and prosperity. Firecrackers are used throughout the day’s celebrations while at night people decorate their houses with Diwali lanterns.
Jaipur hosts the biggest Diwali celebrations in India. Stay at the heritage hotel Umaid Bhawan to experience traditional Rajput hospitality and design.
Seoul Lantern Festival, South Korea
Hundreds of life-size lanterns created by local artists are strung along the Cheonggyecheon Stream in downtown Seoul for the annual Seoul Lantern Festival, held from the first Friday to the third Sunday in November. Visitors can partake in launching wish lanterns or lantern-making contents.
Stay close to the action at the trendy boutique hotel L7 Myeongdong in the Cheonggyecheon district.
Loy Krathong Festival, Thailand
Thais celebrate Loy Krathong, also known as the ‘Festival of Light’, every November with Buddhist ceremonies and the launching of decorated krathong, floating baskets carrying lit candles and joss sticks. The ritual symbolizes letting go of past transgressions and negativity.
Head to Phra Athit Pier in Bangkok where locals launch their krathong on the Chao Phraya River. Agoda recommends Navalai River Resort to enjoy this event up close.
Nagasaki Lantern Festival, Japan
Originally a celebration of Chinese New Year, this festival expanded in the 1990s to become what we know today as the Nagasaki Lantern Festival. Every year during the first 15 days of the Chinese Lunar New year, the entire Chinatown district in Nagasaki is decorated with more than 15,000 brightly colored paper lanterns. Visitors can also expect to see fireworks, dragon dances, processions and Chinese acrobatics.
Get a taste of local Japanese culture by staying in one of Nagasaki Koyotei Hotel’s Japanese-style rooms.
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