Wow. Last night Fee and I headed north to Mae Jo, acting on a recommendation to check out the annual lantern ceremony there. We had heard rumor of the launching of upwards of 3,000 paper lanterns. So we followed our intrigue.
Passing stand after stand of folks selling hand-made paper lanterns – complete with fuel-soaked slice of bamboo shoot – our drums of anticipation began to beat. We parked the bike and joined the throng, grabbing some food (including a delicious spicy noodle salad) as we walked alongside a canal, accompanied by the ‘pop-pop-POP’ of firework-happy kids.
The main event took place on the temple grounds, a massive circular field the seemed to be made for this event. The monks were leading meditation over the PA system, but most folks, distracted by the prospects of the great launch, chatted in small groups of family and friends. Finally, the moment arrived. A vast grid of tiki torches was lit across the field, some final call-and-response chants were offered, and away we went.
With two or three people spreading the lantern lengthwise, the bamboo ‘engine’ was held over the torches until the flame took. Then the lantern begins to fill with hot air, fully inflating and becoming ever more buoyant until – LIFTOFF! – and it joined the ranks of our swirling, man-made constellations of wishes, floating up into the night sky.
No comments:
Post a Comment