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| Lantern floating |
Lantern
floating Hawaii is held annually on Memorial day on South shore of Island of O’ahu
to honor loved ones and generate hope toward the future. The ceremony
brings together 50,000 people on the beach, joined by millions more around the
world via live broadcast.
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| people gathered at Ala Moana for lantern floating ceremony |
The ceremony
is held by Shinnyo-en, the international Buddhist community and is an example of Shinnyo-en’s fire and water
ceremonies, which aim to awaken wisdom and compassion.
On this day,
people from different ethnicity and culture, all come together for collective
as well as personal moment of remembrance, deliberation and acknowledgement to
those who have gone before us. It is a moment in time to surround ourselves
with love, kindness, peace and supporting others, even total strangers who are
on the same journey as we are.
This
ceremony rejuvenate all of us as a
community as we reach out to support
others on the path of peace and healing, at the same time
recognizing the common value we share.
Memorial day
in America is a day when people remember and honor the fallen heroes, who have
sacrificed their lives in line of duty. Hawai’I has largest ethnically diverse
population and have adopted the
tradition of memorial day into its
culture as a day to honor and remember our loved ones. It’s a norm in Hawaii to remember the fallen heroes,
others family members and friends by placing flowers on grave.
The first
lantern floating in Hawaii was held at
Ke'ehi Lagoon on the south shore of O'ahu in 1999, but was moved to Ala Moana
Beach in 2002, where it is observed every year since. The first ceremony was
officiated and inaugurated by Her
Holiness Shinso Ito, Head Priest of Shinnyo-en.
Over 6000
lanterns were given out starting
at 10 AM and they ran out of
supply two hours earlier than before. It gave people ample time to write the
messages and prepare the lanterns.
According to the Lantern Floating.com,
Hawaii ,the elements of the ceremony are:
Pū - The sounding of the pū, or Hawaiian conch shell, sanctifies the area
and marks the commencement of the ceremony.
Shinnyo Taiko – The sound of the taiko calls people together. It is
offered as a prayer for peace, with hope that people reach out in the spirit of
creating harmony to support one another.
Oli - This
Hawaiian chant calls the attention of all who are present to prepare their
hearts to receive the importance of what will follow.
Hula - A
visual portrayal of mele (song) or oli (chant) through dance. "Ka
Lei Moana".
Entrance of Main Lanterns - Six large Main Lanterns carry prayers for all
spirits on behalf of all people. Prayers are offered for victims of war,
water-related accidents, natural and manmade disasters, famine and disease.
Gratitude is offered for all - even endemic, endangered and extinct plant and
animal life. These lanterns are floated with the hope of encouraging harmony
and peace.
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| Main lantern |
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| Six main lanterns |
Light of
Harmony - In the spirit of friendship, community leaders from various sectors
symbolically demonstrate their unified commitment to creating harmony amid
diversity.
Blessing and
transformation – Her Holiness Shinso Ito offers a blessing of the ceremonial
area, the lanterns, all who are being remembered, and all in attendance prior
to the floating of lanterns.
Offering of
food and water - This ritual symbolizes the offering of spiritual nourishment
to the souls of those being remembered.
Strewing of
flower petals – Since ancient times, flowers have adorned the path of honored
ones. The scattering of flowers on the path symbolizes the love and respect
that we offer to our loved ones.
Shomyo – A
fusion of traditional Buddhist chant and Western choral harmony.
Ringing of
the Bell - The crystal clear sound of Her Holiness Shinso Ito's bell focuses
everyone's thoughts and prayers and signifies that it is time to float the
lanterns.
Floating of
Lanterns - Lanterns are placed onto the water with wishes for the peace and
happiness of loved ones past while unveiling courage and hope in the hearts of
those in the present.
Under the theme “Many Rivers, One Ocean,” participants
set afloat the lanterns as the sun set slowly over the pacific.
All the lanterns are collected by volunteers,
refurbished and stored again for next year ceremony.
References:
