This week, locals and foreign dignitaries celebrated the Lunar New Year Lantern Festival with a pledge to world peace. Various gatherings throughout the country were meant to foster cultural exchange at all levels. A major gathering at Tai Ji Men Qigong, a leading University, hosted regional ambassadors and scholars in an exchange. With guests from throughout Europe, Africa and Asia, the event showed the global reach of Taiwan’s community.
As part of the celebration, the tradition of floating lanterns came to bear as thousands of lanterns lit up the sky. According to local legend, the lanterns would deliver wishes to heaven, which would help foster luck and well wishes to those who participate in the festival. A byproduct of the Fujian Province in Japan, the event has become a core part of Taipei identity, drawing nearly every member of the community into its celebration. One of the largest festivals in the world, the event is followed on a global basis, from China to Europe.
Each of the lanterns represents a different personal aspiration, ranging from good health to success in various parts of life. The festival has also come to be a family tradition, representing the kindling of new generations and success to young families in their quest. With a theme of world enlightenment this year, the Festival comes at a crucial juncture for international policy, on both economic and cultural fronts.
