Vesak or Vesakha Puja is one of the important celebrations for Buddhists around the world, including in Indonesia. The Tri Holy Day of Vesak is also a moment to commemorate three important events, namely the birth of Prince Siddharta in the Lumbini garden, Prince Siddharta’s achievement of becoming a Buddha, and the death of Prince Siddharta (parinibbana).
Leading up to the Vesak celebration there are also a series of events to commemorate this important day. This year, Vesak 2568 BE which falls on May 23, 2024 has a series of events with the peak event to be held at Borobudur Temple, Magelang. One of the most anticipated activities is the Vesak Lantern Festival. Uniquely, the release of lanterns can also be followed by non-Buddhist people.
Every year, people flock to buy tickets for this lantern festival. Visitors come from all over the region and of all ages. To take part in this event, visitors must comply with several existing regulations, such as wearing white and polite clothes, and maintaining calm during the event.
According to Detiknews, the series of lantern release activities are as follows, the event begins with meditation where this activity aims as a spiritual effort to ignite the light in peace within each person. Participants are then invited to write down their prayers and hopes which will later be attached to the lanterns that will be flown. The event committee will then give the signal for all participants to light the lanterns. When it is ready, the committee will announce when the lanterns are ready to be flown together.
During the festival, thousands of lanterns are released into the sky creating a beautiful and meaningful sight. Covered from Detikcom, the released lanterns have a meaning as a lamp of human life. Lanterns lit at night are considered a symbol of Buddhists’ willingness to light the light of peace.
The Vesak Lantern Festival not only has deep spiritual meaning for Buddhists, but is also a cultural attraction that enriches Indonesia’s heritage, promotes tolerance, and supports local tourism. Happy Vesak Day. Sabbe Satta Bhavantu Sukhitatta.
