Author: Jordan Hu

Two weekends ago at the Rise Festival in the Mojave Desert, thousands gathered to release 20,000 sky lanterns into the night sky. The Rise Festival takes its inspiration from the Thai festivals of Loi Krathong and Yi Peng, which both involve the releasing of candle-lit lanterns. In Loi Krathong, participants use lanterns made out of banana leaves or bread to carry candles and release them into the river, where they will float downstream before disintegrating or be eaten by the fishes. The candle is used to venerate the Buddha with light, while the floating lanterns represents letting go of one’s…

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