15th February 2022 Dr Beena
Hello everyone. We completed 100 stories on the website to date. Thank you, everyone, for your contributions in terms of pictures, your artwork, your stories and all the lovely comments that has made this site a wonderful place to reflect😊.
Today I would like to share my thoughts on the Lantern Festival, which falls on the fifteenth day of the first month in the lunisolar Chinese calendar. That is on the last day of the Chinese New year. It dates to 2000 years ago when Buddhist monks would light lanterns in temples on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. Emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty, an advocate of Buddhism, ordered all households, temples and the imperial palace to light lanterns. Since then, it developed into a folk custom. Another theory is declining winter darkness and the community’s ability to move about with lanterns bringing in light. This lantern festival should not be confused with the mid-autumn lantern festival celebrated in many SE Asian countries in August or September.
The above painting is of different types of lanterns. Lanterns evoke happiness, and it is beautiful to see the various patterns and materials used for lanterns. Modern lanterns have become part of interior designs in many homes. Hence you don’t need to wait for a festival to observe these beautiful creations of light. You can enjoy them daily. I believe that to enjoy light; we must have darkness. Just imagine, if you light up this lantern during the daytime, would you see its gorgeous beauty? The contrast against a dark background enhances the shine of light😊😊.
On that note, let us begin our next 100 series of stories or musings. To all my Chinese friends, I wish them ” Happy Chap Goh Meh”. Till the next musing, may there be light in our lives😊.
12 thoughts on “Let there be Light”
Hi beena
The painting is beautiful bringing out the glow of the lanterns. Festival or not light gives energy and zest to our life lime waking up in the morning to the light of sunshine ✨ 💛
Yea I just love paper lanterns. In Vietnam they are made of silk too and rather exquisite.
Happy Chap Goh Meh 🙂
Is it a celebration in Sydney too??
Oh yes!
Hi Terry
Yes we made it. Hope you will continue to support this web site with your stories.
Wonderful painting and wonderful tradition! Happy New Year to all.
Allan
P.S. I’m impressed that we have reached 100 stories. May this new tradition continue and May we accumulate many, many more paintings and stories.
Thanks Allan for starting this whole story writing concept. It is a beautiful idea to write stories to paintings or work of art. Hope we can keep this going with more contributers.
Beena
Hi Dr Beena Devi
Those Chinese lantern s look good
I wanted to reply in Chinese so i
Thought of simple online translation
I’ve taken a screan shot & clipped it as attachment
Hi Nandakumar
Thanks for the comment in Chinese:)
I love your painting of beautiful feel good lanterns! Thank you for sharing it and too, CONGRATULATIONS on your 100th post and story and art work.
Thanks Annie for the inspirational picture that you sent me. Thank you for supporting this website with your beautiful handicraft and delightful stories.☺️☺️