I've never been in Japan for a lantern festival, as this is my first August here. Lantern festivals, also called Toro Nagashi, are part of the season of Obon which always occurs in mid-August. Obon is when the souls of deceased relatives come to visit the household alter. When held at the end of Obon (which starts this week), the released lanterns guide the souls back to the afterlife. Toro Nagashi is also held on anniversaries of tragic events, like the bombing of Hiroshima or the earthquake and tsunami in Fukushima, usually in that city or area.
The lantern festival may sound depressing, but it is joyful celebration for Japanese people. Traditionally Japanese people believe that humans come from water, so the lanterns represent their bodies returning to water (before-life and after-life). The peaceful event is a gesture of respect for those who have passed away and gives participants a moment to think about their ancestors and loved ones.
In addition to guiding loved ones back to the afterlife, people write wishes on the lanterns. Historically people would write wishes for the safe passage of loved ones to the afterlife, but that has evolved and people write any desire they may have.
They start selling the lanterns at 2:00. We meant to get there that early (they only sell 2,500 lanterns and we really wanted to release one), but got stuck in a crazy rainstorm that delayed us (more on that another day). Luckily, they still had lanterns for sale when we arrived at almost 6. After purchasing our lantern, we were guided to a hall where several tables were set up with pens for decorating your lantern.
Once we had written our wishes on it, we were guided up to the waterfront where we stood in line. I was actually happy to stand in line for once because it was beautiful and the temperature wasn't too hot. We got to see the clouds reflect beautiful pink colors behind Skytree and enjoy the evening together.
We slowly walked our lantern up to the release site. They had a little water table with staff behind it. The staff person lit the candle inside the lantern and my son put the lantern into the water. It then travelled down the ramp into the river.
As our wishes floated away and guided our loved ones, we took a minute to enjoy the beauty of the floating lanterns. It was then that I looked up and saw the crowded bridge, where hundreds of people stood gazing at the river. Everyone was gathered to see the beautiful sight, many making wishes of their own.
This was such a magical tradition to take part of. No matter your reason for being there - to guide a loved one, to make a wish, to watch the lanterns float down the river - it is truly a sight to behold. Photos will never do it justice.
One of my favorite things is the lanterns in Tangled. I so want to do this.
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