The event director, Collin Maki, discussed his hope for the future as people continue to live and grow throughout their lives. I’m glad that I’m alive and that God gave me a second chance to live… and I want to connect and stay with God right now because he’s giving me more chances,” Michelle said.ĭespite their different backgrounds and motives for coming, the attendees found common ground in the importance of the festival, as they joined each other to take part in this occasion. “Two days ago, I had a really bad accident. For them, the lanterns had more of a religious connotation. Others, such as a speaker that went by Michelle, came out of hope for a new start. I used to go sit with my wife from the bank of the river and offer lighted lamps almost every day,” Sharma said. “I come from a city where only a river flows through it. For him, the story behind the lantern has more cultural relevance. Ramesh Kumar Sharma, another festival attendee, traveled from India to visit his family, who live in the Bay Area. For me, this is my way of releasing to the universe all the pain that I’ve gone through.” While shy at first, many volunteers began stepping up and sharing.Ī young woman who spoke but chose not to reveal her name said, “I lost my fiance of 11 years in a car accident… and this is my way of honoring his life, that I am continuing to live for him. According to volunteers of the Water Lantern Foundation, around 5,000 people took part in this astounding event.ĭuring this festival, volunteers were asked to come up on stage and share the stories of their lanterns. Historically, the lanterns symbolize life and new beginnings however, how this is interpreted is different for each participant. The profits made during these events go towards funding charities and non-profit organizations. The festival travels all around the country and invites people from different communities to join together and release their lanterns into the water. As a connection to the past and a bridge to the future, the Water Lantern Festival of San Francisco creates a beautiful scene while warming people’s hearts.
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