The Spectacular Taehwa River Lantern Festival
In May 2023, the Ulsan Taehwa River Lantern Festival marked the celebration of the year 2570 in the Buddhist calendar with a vibrant opening.
The festival, themed 'Connecting Through Light, Connecting Through Compassion,' took place at the Taehwa River National Garden in Nam-gu, featuring a beautiful lantern display.
As I entered the riverbank, the first thing that caught my eye was a massive ceremonial lantern in the shape of a Buddha. It radiated a gentle smile even in the darkness, quietly resonating with the depths of my heart like the sounds of an ancient temple.
The colorful lanterns hung from trees along the riverside, creating a dreamlike river filled with reds, yellows, blues, and soft pinks. They seemed to convey wishes and comfort, illuminating the riverbank with their soft glow.
The lantern festival is a cultural celebration organized by local temples and the Buddhist community in Ulsan, aiming to promote the beauty of Buddhist culture and deliver messages of harmony and peace.
For a long time, the Taehwa River has been a companion to the citizens of Ulsan. Once darkened by the rough breath of industrialization, the river has revived through the passage of time.
Adorned with vibrant lanterns, the river became a lifeline shared by migratory birds, people, winds, and starlight. If the Taehwa River is a river of life during the day, it transforms into a river of compassion at night.
The reflections on the water from Taehwa Pavilion seemed to heal the wounds and recovery of the citizens of Ulsan. In May, the Taehwa River appeared to shine with divine favor.
With the large Buddha lantern and a multitude of colorful lanterns, the scene was breathtaking. The sparkling lights along the riverside created an ambiance as if one had traveled to another country.
People slowed their steps, captivated by the enchanting lanterns. Some clasped their hands in prayer, while others took photos with their families.
In front of the dancing lanterns, laughter erupted, and some gazed silently at the lights. Their expressions reflected the weight of their years and the quiet resilience of their hearts today.
In Buddhism, lanterns symbolize the wisdom that illuminates the darkness. They embody the wish to brighten the mind clouded by desires and afflictions and to shine light on the world.
Lighting a lantern ultimately means illuminating one's inner self. Walking among the many lanterns, I contemplated that human life is also like a lantern.
Even in fierce winds, the flickering lights strive to remain lit; living may just be about not extinguishing our inner light.
The origins of the lantern festival trace back to the Three Kingdoms period, where King Jinheung of Silla held a Palgwanhoe to console fallen soldiers.
The tradition of lanterns has been passed down since the time of King Gyeongmun. This culture, which has continued for 1,200 years, is recognized as a national intangible heritage and inscribed as a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage.
This year's lantern festival celebrated the birth of Buddha, illuminating lanterns filled with wishes.
The term 'lantern' signifies 'to light a lamp,' embodying the desire to illuminate a heart darkened by greed and to shine a light of happiness upon the world.
The story of the 'poor woman's lantern' tells of a poor woman who lit her lantern with sincerity. Even in the deep night with fierce winds, her lantern never extinguished. It seems that deep sincerity touches the heart longer than great strength.
At the festival, dragon lanterns and four heavenly kings' lanterns illuminated the world in different colors. The dragon lantern appeared dynamic, as if ready to ascend to the heavens.
The phoenix lantern, with its wings spread wide, radiated an aura of peace. The lanterns adorned with traditional patterns evoked memories of the colorful decorations of ancient temples.
The lights were gentle rather than intense, and this subtlety deeply stirred my heart.
The lanterns symbolizing the compassion of Kwan Yin Bodhisattva conveying truth, the magnificent peacock lantern, the dynamic dragon lantern, and the fluttering phoenix lantern adorned the riverbank.
Lanterns representing the celestial deity Brahma, the protector of the heavens, and the lotus lantern, each shining with their own significance, filled the space.
The stone pagoda lantern and the Jajang Bodhisattva lantern, which saves all beings, along with the four heavenly kings' lantern and novice monk lantern, glowed softly in the darkness, giving a warm and gentle feeling.
Even the solemn lanterns rose with a cute and bright atmosphere.
Perhaps beauty always shines most brilliantly in brief moments. The light of the lotus and Buddha forms scattered and reformed, creating patterns of hope.
The scene of a thousand-year tradition blending in one space felt both unfamiliar and mystical.
Even as the night deepened, the lights of the Taehwa River lanterns did not fade. A tranquil peace settled on the faces of the people.
Some may have made wishes, while others reflected on their past lives. Perhaps some quietly found solace for their wounded hearts.
Even after the festival ended, the true lanterns remained in my heart. A desire to light the lamps of hope even in despair, a wish to illuminate each other's paths in darkness.
That is surely the reason why lanterns have continued to this day. The Taehwa River was a river of light flowing with wishes and compassion that night.
Source :https://blog.naver.com/ulsan_nuri/224303871046
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