Lantern Festival celebrated with annual traditions
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E-mail China.org.cn, March 2, 2018
Hanging lanterns
One of the Lantern Festival's important activities is hanging lanterns. Throughout the Han Dynasty (206 B.C.-A.D. 220), Buddhism flourished in China. One emperor heard that Buddhist monks would observe "sarira," or crystalline traces found amongst the cremated remains of Buddha and esteemed Buddhist practitioners, and light lanterns to worship Buddha on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. So he ordered the lighting of lanterns in the imperial palace and temples to show respect for Buddha on this day. Later, the Buddhist rite developed into a grand festival among the common people and its influence expanded from the Central Plain to the rest of China. Today, the Lantern Festival is still celebrated throughout the country each year. Lanterns of various shapes and sizes are hung in the streets, attracting countless visitors. Children can be seen holding self-made or store-bought lanterns while excitedly strolling down the streets.
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