Glowing lanterns and bright children’s eyes
This year’s Lantern festival was once again a great success. Hundreds of children visited Pagoda Phat Hue to experience the world of clowns and magicians. At the entrance, our little guests were greeted by juggling clowns and balloon animals. The Buddha Hall became an enormous play meadow filled with games and balloons. There was all this and so much more, and you can see it all in our photo gallery.
Different areas were set up to offer the children a colorful world. One activity involved blindfolded children feeling the natural world, leaves and twigs, with their hands and feet. There was also a sound workshop led by Janko Jetzovšek Jizou and his wife, which was both museum and sound experience. Here, sound lanterns could be tinkered with by punching holes on a cardboard strip, painted pictures, or words. A small play organ turned, enlivening personal images with melody. And everything was transformed, illuminated and colored by tealight.
The arts and crafts workshop was oft-visited again this year, and the young artists were able to creatively let off their steam. With different materials such as finger paints and strips of cloth, an approximately 5 meter image was created, put together by the cooperative little hands of many children. In the make-up corner were large crowds of sweet faces transformed into small tigers and lions, or decorated with butterflies.
Following these activities was the stage show, which put the children under a spell. As in previous years, a dragon dance and a Vovinam demonstration (of traditional Vietnamese martial arts), in which even the smallest students participated, were on display. We even had child rock stars on stage, as well as Monia, the soulful voice of U22.
The magician Klaus Klamauck enchanted not only the children who besieged the stage, but also the parents.
As for food, we were plentifully prepared, because our Vietnamese community offered various traditional Vietnamese delicacies, which streamed delicious smells throughout the Pagoda. And, in the end, each child received a lantern and a baggie of donated sweets, and at the sound of the drums, joined a lantern procession led by the clowns. At their final destination, fireworks of a different kind awaited them: two fire artists provided a unique and exciting show that took some breaths away.
Even as the festivities wound down and guests strolled away, late into the evening, untiring clowns fooled around in the Pagoda, tinkered with ballons and flowers, and spread fun and merriment. And, For the success of the entire evening, we want to once again sincerely thank all our wonderful helpers, without whose dedication this festive evening could not have happened.
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