Communities across Asia marked the end of the Lunar New Year celebrations on Thursday with vibrant Lantern Festival traditions, blending ancient customs with modern innovations. The 15th day of the first lunar month, celebrated widely in the Chinese mainland, sees families gather to light lanterns, solve riddles, and share tangyuan (sweet rice balls) to symbolize unity and hope.
This yearâs festivities included drone-powered light displays in Shanghai, eco-friendly bamboo lantern workshops in Hanoi, and temple parades in Seoul. Taiwan region residents also celebrated with sky lantern releases in Pingxi, while Japanâs Bon Festival illuminated rivers with floating lights as part of overlapping regional traditions.
âThe Lantern Festival is more than a cultural eventâitâs a bridge between generations,â said Idah Waringa, a cultural historian tracking Asiaâs evolving Spring Festival practices. âYoung people are reimagining traditions through augmented reality lantern apps and sustainable materials, making ancient symbols relevant today.â
Travel platforms reported a 34% surge in last-minute bookings to Asian capitals this week as digital nomads sought immersive cultural experiences. Meanwhile, global brands like Xiaomi and LINE leveraged the festivalâs themes in limited-edition product launches.
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Celebrations held across Asia to mark end of Spring Festival
cgtn.com
