Unlike other places, Hue’s people still mostly use handmade lantern. At temples, Buddhist followers and monks are making the lanterns. For them, hand making the lanterns for Buddha's Birthday is a way of expressing their devotion.
Dieu Ngyen, Buddhists follower said: Every year, to mark Buddha’s birthday, people go to pagoda to make lantern as offerings to Buddha. I also made lantern to offer to Buddha in hope it will be a solemn festival.
Lanterns show the spiritual offerings of Buddhist people; it also represents wisdom. The colour of the lights are bright and predominantly in yellow, pink or red.
To make the colourful lanterns in all kinds and shapes, they must be carefully approached, from making the frame, cutting the fabric, so that when they are connected together, they create a beautiful symmetry. Each type of lantern has its own function, some to be to be hung, to put on the shelf, to hang in the temple, at home, or on the street.
Thich Nu Hien Nhien, Monk, Lien Tri pagoda, Hue City said: Lanterns for Buddha’s Birthday are often in shape of lotus, circle, many different materials are used in making them, from paper, cloth, to plastic, cardboard. The colours featured are the five colours used on Buddhist flags, especially yellow and pink are the most used colours for making Buddhist lanterns.
As the Buddhist centre of the country, Buddha’s Birthday is awaited by many Hue Buddhist followers. Vesak is no longer just a religious rituals, it has become a festival and a wider cultural event. Along with the festival held on the occasion of Buddha's birthday, the colourful lanterns add a warm glow to represent the desire that bliss and peace will come to everyone.
