Author name: Swapnil Bhatnagar

Picture this: A lone train carriage rattles through the Japanese countryside. Outside the window, rice paddies stretch out like a patchwork quilt, shimmering under the weight of a summer afternoon. Sunlight filters through the leaves of a distant forest, and impossibly fluffy white clouds drift across a sky so blue it almost hurts to look at. You can practically feel the heat, hear the cicadas, and smell the sweet, earthy scent of the grass.

There’s a universal magic to a softly glowing lantern. It’s a beacon in the darkness, a vessel of stories, and a canvas for exquisite artistry. From the vibrant, bustling streets of a Lunar New Year festival to the serene, contemplative float of a single lotus on a quiet river, lanterns have captivated the human imagination for centuries. But what is it about these luminous objects that transcends mere functionality and enters the realm of profound art? This blog post embarks on a voyage to discover lantern art’s timeless beauty, rich history, and cultural tapestry.