Lighting Water Lanterns to Guide the Lost Souls on the Water — Keelung’s Ghost Festival Lantern Release Kicks Off Early

Reported by You Tzu-ju / Taipei

The climax of Keelung’s Ghost Festival — the grand Water Lantern Parade — will take place next week. This coming Saturday (17th), the festival will first invite the public to gather at Marine Plaza to release colorfully painted prayer lanterns, experiencing the joy of lantern floating and the unique festive atmosphere of Keelung’s Ghost Festival. A limited run of 1,000 painted lanterns will be distributed starting at 6 PM. Participants can queue up along the designated route, pick up a lantern, paint it, and then release it themselves around 7 PM following staff instructions.


▲ Keelung’s Ghost Festival is about to begin. (Photo / Provided by Keelung City Government)

Releasing water lanterns is one of the most anticipated events of the Ghost Festival. The purpose of releasing these lanterns is to light the way for lost souls on the water, guiding them to the land to share in the offerings, so that both the wandering spirits of the water and the land can coexist peacefully. Every year, after the Water Lantern Parade concludes late at night at midnight, various family associations light the lantern heads on the shore and set them afloat in the sea — a spectacular scene that draws large crowds hoping to capture the moment. The associations believe that the farther the lantern heads drift, the better the fortune for their clan. During the lantern ceremony, a Taoist priest typically recites prayers and chants scriptures nearby, an aspect of the ritual that few members of the public usually get to experience. In response, the Keelung City Cultural Affairs Bureau has specially prepared 1,000 painted prayer lanterns for release at Marine Plaza this year. Members of the public can write messages for peace or creatively paint their own designs on the lanterns, then personally release them to pray and make wishes together, enjoying this rare opportunity to take part in the lantern-floating tradition.

This year’s organizers have also planned a series of fun promotional activities and cultural performances during the Ghost Festival period, inviting the public to experience Keelung’s uniquely distinctive folk festival charm. One highlight includes the chance to ride the Ghost Festival-themed “Ghost Train” on limited-run trains operated by Taiwan Railways after 3 PM on the day of the parade — giving passengers the spooky thrill of riding alongside rarely seen ghostly figures en route to the Keelung Ghost Festival festivities.