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The Southeast Asian Floating Lantern Festival 2006
When we set the lanterns afloat, we symbolically let go of unhappiness, and usher in a time of renewal, peace, and prosperity.
Aloha and welcome. This is our Second Annual Floating Lantern Festival, in which the descendants from various Southeast Asian countries have combined their efforts to share the richness of their cultures with the Honolulu community. All are invited to enjoy traditional dances and songs, participate in sports demonstrations, and sample delectable ethnic foods. At sunset, we will light candles for the lanterns to be set afloat in the ocean.
Schedule of Events
12 noon - - Food Booths, Live Band
1 pm - 4 pm - - Burmese palm reading, games,
and cultural activities
4 pm - 4:45 pm - - Traditional Dances of Cambodia, Myanmar,
Thailand, and Laos
4:45 pm - - Thai Kick Boxing Exhibition
5:30 pm - - Cultural ceremony begins
5:50 pm (sunset) - - Lantern Floating
7:00 pm - - End of Program
The Cambodian Water Festival (Bon Om Tuk):
(Courtesy of Ms. Christine Su)
Bon Om Tuk is one of the largest and most significant festivals in Cambodia. Traditionally lasting for three days in November, Bon
Om Tuk commemorates the centrality of water in Khmer (Cambodian) life-in fact, the Khmer are sometimes called the Children of the Water. The Khmer depend upon the Tonle
Sap, a vast lake and river system, for fish, a staple of the Khmer diet, and for irrigation of their cherished rice fields.
During the rainy season (May to October), the Tonle
Sap river, which ordinarily flows from north to south, actually reverses direction, increasing the Tonle
Sap Lake to ten times its normal size and flooding the surrounding terrain. In late October or November, the river returns to its normal
course and the swollen lake eventually recedes, leaving behind an abundance of fish and fertile soil. Bon
Om Tuk celebrates this abundance.
Thai Culture of Hope Float and Lights Festival (the Loi Krathong):
The Loi
Krathong is the most picturesque of all the festivals in Thailand. It is a festival of Hope and Lights held annually on the full moon of the 12th lunar month (November). The festival originated in Sukothai, the first capital of Thailand about 800 years ago as a sort of Thai Thanksgiving. The word "Loi " in Thai means "to float" while "Krathong" refers to "a cup" which is traditionally made from banana leaves and is an origami-sequel craft. Each float is decorated with joss-sticks, flowers, small amounts of money or coins, and a lighted candle. Decorated floats are then set on the water as an offering in thanks to Mae
Khongka or the "Goddess of Water" for providing life-sustaining water throughout the year and in asking for forgiveness for polluting the water.
A mystical silence hangs as each person prays and reminisces in private thoughts while watching the offerings drift out of sight. It is held in belief that the longer the candle burns, the better the next year will be. For others, floating the Kratongs may represent floating their sins away and wishing for a better and new beginning. Couples and lovers, on the other hand, may take this occasion to launch a Krathong together in hopes that they will remain together in this life and/or the next.
Lao Culture Festival (Lai Heua Fai):
(Courtesy of Mr. Deth Soulatha)
The Lai Heua Fai (The Lighting of Floats) festival is organized at the end of Buddhist Lent. It is a river ceremony in which small hand-made boats made of bamboo and banana tree bark are floated. On these boats are decorations of edible items, sweets, rice, lighted candles, incenses and flowers which are floated down the river while people were pray and make vows. The candlelit boats bob away into the darkness, symbolizing the dismissal of bad luck, disease, and bad deeds to make room for the good. Temples, shops, and houses are also lit up with a display of thousands of lanterns and candles in honor of Buddha.
Burmese "Tazaungtaing" Festival:
(Courtesy of Mr. Than Htut Aye)
The word Tazaungtaing is made up of 2 words, "Tazaung" means light and "Taing" means
festival. The Light Festival is celebrate on the full moon in November. Thousands
of lights such as candles and oil cups are displayed at pagodas and outside of
homes. Local food, music and dance are another part of the festivities in all
cities and villages. At night, the entire village will come out to see the clear
sky and shining stars, as November is the best time to observe stars in
Burma . The Burmese also believe that when it is exactly midnight on full moon
in November, the Mezali tree is spiritually very healthy and people may eat its
leaves at that time to increase their own spiritual health. Young boys are very
happy and traditionally are allowed to play some tricks that night.
For further information about the Southeast Asian Lantern Festival, please contact Mr. Paul Fox at 523-2733, Ms. Christine Su at 358-4118.
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