Floating water lanterns: Chinese blue lotus lantern festival 2024
In August 2024,floating water lanterns with the theme of blue lotus appeared in the 5A-level key scenic spot Lingshan Scenic Area.
This is the first time that LingShan Cultrue and Tourism Group to use the Chinese floating water Lanterns theme to match the real bule lotus flowers.
This marks the first time Lingshan Cultural Tourism Group has hosted the “Chinese Blue Lotus Lantern Festival” featuring Chinese water lanterns paired with real blue lotus flowers. These vivid lotus water lantern became a high-profile attraction at the scenic areas as soon as they debuted, attracting over 100,000 visitors.
The successful hosting of the Lotus Water Lantern Festival stems firstly from its unique cultural significance, and secondly from the exquisite craftsmanship involved. Now, let us explore the history and legacy of these lotus water lanterns.
Cultural Symbolism of the Lotus Water Lantern
1.Blue Lotus Lantern
Egypt: The Blue Lotus (also known as Egyptian Water Lily, Nymphaea nouchali var. caerulea) originated in the Nile River Basin of ancient Egypt, where it grew naturally as an aquatic plant.
In ancient Egyptian culture, it symbolized rebirth and the sun due to its unique behavior of closing at night and blooming at sunrise. This daily cycle made it an emblem of the eternal cycle of life and renewal. It was revered as a “Sacred Flower” in Egyptian mythology, associated with solar deities like Ra and regeneration rituals.
Buddhism: Through trade and cultural exchange, the Blue Lotus spread widely across regions including India Upon reaching India, its distinctive appearance and ethereal quality led to its integration into Buddhist iconography. As Buddhism expanded globally, the Blue Lotus became a core symbol of Buddhist culture, representing wisdom, purity, and transcendent enlightenment beyond worldly suffering. It frequently appears as an attribute (attribute) or throne (throne) for Buddhas and Bodhisattvas in sacred art.
2.Water Lanterns
Across East and Southeast Asia, the tradition of releasing water lanterns persists as a vibrant ritual for bestowing blessings, honoring ancestors, or averting disasters. These lanterns, adrift on currents, symbolize the carrying away of misfortunes or embodying remembrance for the departed.
The blue lotus water lantern merges this ancestral practice with the flower’s spiritual symbolism, preserving its role in communal prayers while accentuating themes of ”purification” and “rebirth”.
Innovates beyond traditional Chinese water lantern crafting
1.Traditional Style
Materials
Small lanterns: Crafted with natural materials—banana leaves and bamboo strips form the base.
Large lanterns: Employ wooden or steel frames for structural integrity, with lotus petals made of colored paper or fresh lotus flowers. The core houses a candle or oil lamp.
Design
Form: Typically shaped as a blooming blue lotus with layered, unfolding petals.
Symbolism: The central light source symbolizes spiritual illumination. Decorations may include lotus leaves or Buddhist motifs (e.g., the swastika 卍).
2.Our unique design
The blue lotus water lanterns custom-designed by Lingshan Cultural Tourism Group feature a central lotus measuring 10 meters in diameter and 4 meters in height, while auxiliary lotuses range from 1.5 to 3 meters in diameter. Such monumental scale necessitates a departure from traditional crafting methods.
And we breaking the traditional steel frame fixed, using the floating barrel method to make the lanterns more safe and flexible! And 3d printing technology can also be used to make lanterns. In the same time, we abandon the traditional way to light up the lanterns, we use more environmentally friendly and energy-sving led light to light up the lotus lanterns,led blue lotus lanterns are also more uniform and soft in the presentation of light than bulbs.The same installation plan was used in the Singapore Marina Garden two years ago!
The cooperation with Lingshan Culture and Tourism Group is not the first time! The first cooperation was in January this year. In the traditional Chinese New Year festival, which we created the lantern content for the New Year event for Lingshan Culture and Tourism Group. If you are interseted in it, you can check the link: Spring Festival Lantern Exhibition.
Scenes of the Lotus Lantern Festival
Lingshan Scenic Area has become a vital showcase of Chinese Buddhist culture and the premier destination for experiencing Eastern Zen through seamlessly integrating tradition with modern tourism. Hosting the Blue Lotus Lantern Festival is profoundly aligned with this Buddhist cultural context.
Beyond its sanctity as a Buddhist site, blue lotus water lanterns have demonstrated versatile applications across history and modernity:
1. Festival Celebrations
Thailand’s “Loy Krathong”: People release blue lotus water lanterns into rivers to express gratitude to the Water Goddess (Phra Mae Khongkha).
China’s “Ullambana Festival”: In some regions, lanterns are floated to guide departed souls, with the blue lotus symbolizing ferrying beings to enlightenment.
2. Religious Activities: During Buddhist ceremonies, devotees craft lotus lanterns as offerings to the Three Jewels (Buddha, Dharma, Sangha). The blue hue represents ”Prajna Wisdom” — the transcendent insight into ultimate reality.
3. Modern Applications: Wedding ceremonies, meditation space décor, or art installations that convey serenity and Zen philosophy
Water Lantern Festival Auxiliary Activities
There are not only pleasing to the eye lanterns, but also accompanied by other funny programs. Activities include a gourmet festival, releasing carp, making wishes, and letting go of river lanterns. There are also dance performances and worship of religious beliefs, along with other programs.
For a successful exhibition, we provide parade viewing and snack stand and interaction. To let tourists remember this specific night!To let tourists remember this unforgettable night!
The starry sky is brilliant and symbolizes love. Tens of couples come to visit this event, and also attract middle-aged people to visit and play.
The event has not yet opened, however it has already attracted many local photography enthusiasts to take photos. The promotion of the scenic spot has also received a lot of attention on social media.
If you are insterested in floating water lanterns, please contact us anytime! We have floating lanterns for sale.
