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Hello, I'm Jane and I'll be giving this session with another Professor, Brenda. Here's a 4 minute video of the largest fire festival in the world, Up Helly Aa, in the Shetland Isles.  We look forward to meeting you on Wednesday at 2pm.

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Hi, this is Brenda.  Jane and I are looking forward to welcoming you all on Wednesday afternoon at 2 pm. This will be an opportunity for you all to meet other Heriot Watt pre-sessional students from around the world, to talk about how cultures are globally connected, and to practise your spoken English together!

Above you can find out about a present day classical musical festival which has been held annually for the last forty years in the beautiful pensinsula where I am currently living.

As well as being an area of outstanding natural beauty, the Gower has many wonderful, ancient churches.  These are ideal venues for listening to classical music of all kinds.

I was very disappointed to find that this year the festival has been cancelled because of the pandemic.  Maybe we will be able to visit it next year instead when, hopefully, things may have returned more to normal.  I see they are already making  plans. Enjoy the website in the meantime!

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For over 40 years the Gower Festival has brought music and art of the highest quality to this area of southwest Wales. Now, as well as our traditional Summer fortnight held in our ancient, atmospheric Gower churches, we also present Spring and Autumn entertainments. These include 'big band' and jazz with poetry evenings where food and drink are served in a relaxed setting. As always, we present internationally acclaimed artists, while we keep the ticket prices spectacularly low by attracting generous sponsorship.

As you navigate the web site, clicking images will reveal further information.

Click to watch a video review of the 2019 festival by Gordon Back

2024 Festival video Review

"coming soon"

The 2024 Gower Festival was a brilliant success!

It is difficult to highlight a few concerts, as we heard such wonderful performances of the highest artistic quality.

We reached a larger audience than ever before, had record ticket sales and increased the number of young people attending the festival.

I do want to thank our committee who have worked tirelessly to produce a seamless event and our sponsors without whom it would not take place.

We look forward to 2025 with great anticipation.

Next year's festival will be held from
1-12 July.

International acclaimed performers will include...
Leon McCawley
Fiddlesticks Ensemble Jane Austen 250 Joe Dunthorne Lumas Wind Quintet Heath Quartet
An evening with Martyn Brabbins

Comedy Genius of Rainer Hersch

We are honoured to have Sir Karl Jenkins as our President. Brought up in Penclawdd and educated at Gowerton Grammar School, he is one of the most frequently performed living composers.

"It is a privilege for me, as President, to be able to welcome you to the Gower Festival, my 'local' festival, having been raised on the beautiful Gower Peninsula. There is an exciting programme for you to enjoy, with concerts in the historic churches of Gower."

Llŷr is an internationally recognised concert pianist. He has been the recipient of many awards and is the official accompanist to the Cardiff Singer of the World. He has delighted Gower Festival audiences with his sensitive, meticulously performed recitals.

"The Gower Festival represents the best of the British summer festival tradition, great music for friendly and appreciative audiences in the most beautiful surroundings. I always look forward to returning with much anticipation."

Catrin is an internationally renowned harpist. In 2000 she was appointed for a term as Royal Harpist to Charles, Prince of Wales. She has developed an eclectic approach to the instrument with her recent international collaborations.

"Performing at the Gower Festival on many occasions has always been a special experience for me. I am therefore thrilled to be invited to be a Patron of this outstanding Festival."

Become a friend download a form
‍

WATCH THE KARL JENKINS
DOCUMENTARY ON BBC4

On Sunday 14th July BBC4 broadcast a fascinating documentary on the life and work of our President, Sir Karl Jenkins. This included many of the video selections used in the interview with John Suchet at the King Arthur Hotel on July 4th during the Gower Festival. The documentary is available on BBC I-Player.
Sir Karl Jenkins: The Composer behind the Moustache

New Piano for 2024 Gower Festival

Gordon Back our Musical Director writes:

We are thrilled to debut our new Steinway model B piano for the opening concert of the 2024 Gower Festival, performed by the brilliant pianist, Yevgeny Sudbin. The Gower Festival acknowledges the Swansea Festival of Music and the Arts for their generous donation which has allowed us to purchase the new instrument. Thanks also to Coach House Pianos for their outstanding help in securing the piano.

TICKET SALES COMING SOON

For the general public tickets for the 1st to the 12th July events, tickets will go on sale from Monday 14th April.

For Friends of the Gower Festival, tickets will be on sale from Tuesday 1st April.

If you are not already a Friend join today and book your tickets nearly a fortnight earlier.

Supporting the Gower Festival

We are very grateful to those who support us financially through sponsorship. If you would like to help the Gower Festival for the long term, there are two ways:

Concert Sponsors. The concert sponsorship of £500 allows us to book internationally acclaimed performers for concerts in the intimate atmosphere of Gower churches. Concert sponsors are individually acknowledged in the programme book in association with their sponsored concert.

Festival Sponsors donate at least £100, preferably by Standing Order, to help with the overall costs of running the Festival. They are acknowledged in the programme book.

If you would like to consider becoming a Sponsor please contact Bill Anderson at billanderson191@outlook.com

Finally, have you thought of leaving a legacy to The Gower Festival in your Will?

Celebrating 80 years since the end of World War 2, we recreate the famous dance and swing sensation that swept through the western world in the 1940s. The Jitterbug was banned in many music halls as being too exciting - "a morally dangerous American import". Are you brave enough to come along to witness the spectacle, or even be part of it, and to enjoy the swinging jazzy music?

There'll be dinner jazz whilst you dine, followed by a demonstration of the Jitterbug by our professional dancers, and then it'll be your turn to take to the dance floor and have fun. On the other hand, just if you want to sit and tap your toes to the infectious sound of The Gower Festival Jitterbug Band.

Meals available to be ordered 6.30-7.30 served at your table. Bar open throughout.

Actress Alex Kingston, soprano Claire Booth and pianist Andrew Matthews-Owen explore the life and work of Jane Austen, born 250 years ago. Drama and comedy alternate with some of Jane's favourite songs - by Mozart, Schubert, Handel and others.

Swansea-born Joe Dunthorne is a novelist and poet. His debut novel Submarine was made into a film, and his second book, Wild Abandon, won the Royal Society of Literature Encore Award. His dramatic portrait of Swansea, written for the 70th anniversary of Dylan Thomas's Under Milk Wood, was broadcast in 2024.

We look forward to an entertaining evening with tales from home and abroad.

Comedy Genius of
‍ RAINER HERSCH
ALL CLASSICAL MUSIC EXPLAINED

Swansea Bach Choir are faithful friends of the Gower Festival. Founded by John Hugh Thomas in 1965 and now directed by Greg Hallam, they will celebrate their 60th birthday by performing two masterpieces for unaccompanied voices: Vaughan Williams's Mass in G minor and the Mass for Double Choir by Swiss composer Frank Martin.

swansea bach choir
60 th anniversary

Andy Davies is an award-winning Welsh trumpeter, comedian, script writer, voice over artist, actor and educator. He has hosted the famous Wednesday night Ronnie Scott's Jazz Jam Session for over thirteen years. 'More fun than a barrel of monkeys' ( Evening Standard), he will be joined this evening by the well-known Dave Cottle Trio.

JAZZ WITH ANDY DAVIES
‍AND THE DAVE COTTLE TRIO

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The Story of the Gower Festival

From its early years the Gower Festival has been concerned to foster a wide range of music in idyllic settings...

Friends of the Gower Festival

We have some wonderful concerts and other events arranged for Gower Festival 2025.
Festival Friends have priority booking for the events in July.

Benefits of becoming a Friend

➢ Advance booking for July concerts. This benefit is much appreciated by Friends as many concerts, particularly at smaller venues, sell out quickly.

➢ Regular Festival email updates.

➢ Acknowledgement in the Festival Programme.

➢ Opportunities to help with the running of Festival events and to attend the Society's Annual Meeting.

Annual membership costs only £15 per household.

You can join in one of four ways:

♦ Contact Maggie Harries, 2 Copley Close, Bishopston, Swansea SA3 3JL UK

♦ Email: friends@gowerfestival.org

♦ Download a Gower Festival application form

♦ Pick up an application form at any festival venue.

Gower Festival Friends 100 Club

Don't miss your chance to support the Gower Festival Society and win cash prizes for yourself!
There are three prize draws per year - July, November and March.

➢ 1st Prize per draw £100

➢ 2nd Prize of £50

➢ 3rd Prizes of £25 (the number of 3rd prizes is dependent on the number of tickets sold per year).
Last year the 100 Club raised over £600 for the Gower Festival - a significant contribution towards the cost of a concert.

The cost of a share is only £12 per year - that's just £1per month. You may take out more than one share if you wish.

You can join in one of three ways:

♦ Contact Maggie Harries, 2 Copley Close, Bishopston, Swansea SA3 3JL UK

♦ Email: friends@gowerfestival.org

♦ Pick up an application form at any festival venue, or download an application form.

Friends of the Gower Festival communications

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Gower Festival | Internationally acclaimed musicians

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For more than forty years the Gower Festival has been bringing internationally acclaimed musicians of the highest quality to the area of south west Wales.

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Chingay is held during Chinese New Year celebrations in Singapore. It is very colourful and celebrates Singapore's rich, cultural diversity.

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Galungan is held in honour of the Creator of the Universe and celebrates the time when the spirits of the ancestors are believed to visit the Earth.  It is the most important festival in Bali, celebrating the victory of Good over Evil.  Balinese Hindus show their gratitude with offerings, prayer and dance.  Men bring special palm fronds and women carry offerings of food, fruit and flowers in high towers on their heads.

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The Flower Festival commemorates the birthday of all kinds of flowers and is held in February of the lunar calendar. During the festival, people go out to the countryside to enjoy the flowers and cut colorful paper to hang on branches.
Although it is not explicitly a girl's day, numerous girls meet and play and make friends with each other. Girls who are not yet married love to enjoy flowers and worship the flower gods. They eat flower cakes and perform the flower ritual, praying that they will be as vibrant and beautiful as the flowers. Before the Qing Dynasty, the noblemen and scholars also worshipped the gods of flowers and cut the ribbon, but later it became the exclusive preserve of girls.

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This festival also celebrates the victory of Good over Evil.  Celebrants spend the day smearing themselves and each other with brightly coloured dye powder to welcome in the Spring and new life.

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Eid al-Adha

Is the festival for sacrifice, it’s happens at the first day of Eid al-Adha every year
Animals are sacrifice for example; lamp, cow or Camal.
to approach from Allah, one third of their meat is consumed by the family offering the sacrifice, while the rest is distributed to the poor and needy. Sweets and gifts are given, and extended family are typically visited and welcomed.

A day ago, Muslims visit the House of God in Saudi Arabia and pray there,

There is a lot of information about that, so if someone is interested, he can search for it, and today is the first day of Eid Al-Adha and it lasts for 4 days, and it is called Al-Adha because Muslims sacrifice sheep to get closer to God.

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The Las Fallas in Valencia celebrates the arrival of spring,  It is also a religious holiday during which wooden statues and puppets are burnt in bonfires.

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Gun dragon festival originate in BingYan city.In the February  eleventh people have dragon and lion dance along Main Street.Some citizens would bomb dragon and others would through the fire and the dragon team.They believed that they will luck and happiness next year after the activity.

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Every  year in late September the nomadic Wodaabe tribes in Africa gather at the end of the rainy season, usually during the last week of September, for what has been described as the world’s most competitive male beauty pageant!

During this week-long festival, tribes gather on foot, via camel or donkey to come together to dance, feast, and most importantly – attract a mate. The men, who carry a small pocket mirror with them at all times, spend hours preparing their clothing and makeup for the Yakke dancing – in which three female judges each pick a winner who will carry acclaim and fame for years.

The Wodaabe are polygamous, and it is the women who take the lead in partnerships. A woman who wishes to become known to a prospective husband can just tap him on the shoulder during the dance.

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I would like to describe the Chinese Traditional Festival,The lantern festival.Here is a short video for this festival.In the video you can find that there are many Young who wear the Hanfu(A kind of China traditional cloth).They are enjoy the Light show in Xi’An.

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The Feast of St Patrick is a religious and cultural celebration, held to commemorate the death of the patron saint of Ireland. Irish people the world over wear emerald green clothes on this day, often with the emblem of the shamrock - both traditional symbols of Ireland. Although nowadays it is often an excuse for a visit to the pub, its origins are deeply religious. In more recent times, St Patrick's day has been criticised for becoming commercialised and for fostering negative Irish stereotypes around the world.

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The Mid Autumn Festival is one of the traditional Chinese festivals. Its date is August 15 of the Chinese calendar. On the day of the festival, we will offer sacrifices to the God of the moon, and our families will gather to eat moon cakes and drink liquor fermented with osmanthus flowers.

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Cooper's Hill Cheese Rolling Festival, England

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Cooper's Hill Cheese Rolling Festival, England

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Watch a Downhill Cheese-Chasing Competition in Britain | National Geographic

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The Cambodian Water Festival ioften corresponds with the lunar Mid-Autumn Festival. It marks the end of the monsoon season.  It is characterized by colourful boat races along the Mekong River.

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Boats and boating--Equipment and supplies

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Loy Krathong is a traditional festival native to Thailand. It is celebrated annually and is marked as the ‘festival of lights’.

The name of the event can be translated to mean ‘float a basket’, derived from the age-old practices of creating decorative baskets which are then released and remain afloat on the river. These specially designed baskets are known as krathrongs, hence the name of the festival.

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Balinese offerings to the sea during the  Hindu ceremony of purification before Nyepi - the Balinese New Year and time of silence.  On the beach at Pantai Seseh, Bali, Indonesia.

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This is an eight day festivity to celebrate  'Holy Week', or Easter, in Spain.  During this time the city streets are filled with processions  of richly filled floats and religious statues held aloft.  These are accompanied by the famously hooded Nazarenos - shown in this photo - and loud brass bands.

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Whatever time of the year you’re visiting Malaysia, there’s probably going to be some religious or cultural festival you can attend. Malaysia’s multiculturalism and diversity within their ethnic groups and religion create all kinds of cross-cultural events and celebrations.

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The Dragon Boat Festival, also known as the Dragon Boat Festival, is a collection of gods and ancestors worship, pray for evil spirits, celebrating entertainment as one of the folk festival. Dragon Boat Festival customs are mainly dragon boat racing, hanging mugwort and calamus, eating zongzi（one kind of rice cakes） and so on. Dragon boat racing is very popular in the southern coastal areas of China. After spreading abroad, it is deeply loved by people of all countries and has formed an international competition. The custom of eating zongzi on Dragon Boat Festival has been popular throughout China since ancient times. It has become one of the folk eating customs with the greatest influence and the widest coverage of the Chinese nation.

The most popular story about the Dragon Boat Festival tells the story of the Warring States Period poet Qu Yuan of the State of Chu in 278 BC, seeing his motherland was invaded but unable to do anything about it, he jumped into the Miluo River  to end his life, writing a magnificent piece of patriotism with his own life. After hearing this new, the local people then immediately started boating rescue, but never retrieved the body of Qu Yuan. In order to express the sorrow, people ride boats on the rivers, and then gradually developed into the dragon boat race. The people were also afraid that the fish in the river would eat his body, so they went home and brought rice balls into the river to avoid the fish and shrimp hurting Qu Yuan's body. Later, it became the custom of eating zongzi.（By Erro）

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The seventh day of the seventh lunar month, is the legendary Cowherd and Weaver from the magpie bridge across the Tianhe meet day. Weaver in the hearts of the people is industrious and kind, the spirit of the gods, so on July 7 that night, young girls and young women have to come out to worship the ceremony, and to Weaver Qiqiao, hope that they can also like Weaver has a pair of dexterous hands, a wise heart, will live a happy life.
Since Qixi Festival is closely related to women's affairs, it is also called "Women's Day". It is the Women's Day in Chinese traditional festivals.
Tanabata Festival has the custom of eating Qiao food. The contents of Qiaoshi include melons, fruits and various kinds of pastry, with different customs.
All kinds of delicately made, are displayed in the courtyard of several cases, as if to ask the sky to judge the weaver. Then, while watching the night sky far away, they ate all kinds of delicacies and thought that this would make them more dexterous.
In the Han Dynasty, the people began to beg for skills from the weaver. He prayed not only for ingenuity, but also for wealth, a happy and sweet marriage and children.

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Loy Krathong Lantern Festival Chiang Mai Thailand Gopro Hero3+

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Watch in HD!!! The amazing Lantern Festival Loi Krathong in Chiang Mai, Thailand takes place every year in November during full moon. Thousands of beautifully illuminated lanterns, sending into the night sky...

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Rio's Carnival kicks off with color, music and samba

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The Dragon Boat Festival is a festival in memory of Qu Yuan who is a loyal minister and sacrificed for his country. At the begin of this festival , it is a sad because it was a memory of losing a great man, but now, it is a very interesting festival, you can enjoy special foods and sports such as dragon boat race and zongzi.

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Boats and boating--Equipment and supplies

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One of the first and probably the only eco-marine festival of South Africa, every September the Hermanus Whale Festival celebrates the ocean and its majestic habitants.

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Every winter as the temperatures plunge down to sometimes minus 40 degrees, Harbin is transformed into a winter wonderland.  Across the city,  ice sculptures appear, adorned with lights and lasers, drawing thousands of artists and enthusiasts from all over the world.

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This annual fire festival is held in the snow every year. It involves the lighting of a towering pyre and also a fire-fuelled battle between villagers. A wooden shrine is set alight whilst before a mock battle erupts,. This invokes a deity of roads and borders and is believed to ensure good fortune in the coming year. Only men between the specific ages of 25 and 42 are able to participate.

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Eid-Ul-Fitr 2021: Eid is also called sweet Eid. According to the Islamic calendar, the first date of Shawwal month is called Eid-ul-Fitr. People congratulate each other on this festival of happiness.

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Eid-Ul-Fitr 2021: Eid is also called sweet Eid. According to the Islamic calendar, the first date of Shawwal month is called Eid-ul-Fitr. People congratulate each other on this festival of happiness.

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Eid-Ul-Fitr 2021: Happy month of Ramadan (Ramadan / Ramzan) is about to end. Alvida is done and Eid-ul-Fitr is about to arrive. Eid is also called sweet Eid by some people. According to the Islamic calendar, the first date of Shawwal month is called Eid-ul-Fitr. After the completion of a month’s fast, it is a happy occasion when people embrace each other and celebrate Eid. The festival of Eid is celebrated by seeing the moon. In such a situation, when will the festival of Eid be celebrated, it will be decided by looking at the moon.

This special festival is full of sweetness However, like last year, this year too, due to corona infection, only limited people will be able to go to mosques. At the same time, it will not be possible to embrace and organize any event in this time of social distancing. However, this festival of joy is celebrated every year by making sweet dishes, sevaiyas etc. and embracing friends and acquaintances. Giving the message of brotherhood, on this special day, be it your own or non-embracing, give each other a happy Eid.

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In Guangxi, people have a local festival called the 3rd day of the 3rd lunar month. During this festival, the Guangxi People's Association will hold more than 1,000 celebrations in the province, taking into account the cultural and social customs of various ethnic groups. It is also a festival to increase national unity.

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The ‘Day of the Dead’ celebrates and remembers those who have died with parades, costumes, paper decorations and edible skulls. It is believed that the spirits of the dead visit their families on October 31 and leave on November 2, so many spend this time visiting cemeteries – where there is often music and dances to honour the spirits.

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This one thousand year old summer festival is a spectacle of ethereal-looking lanterns and an all-round atmosphere of excitement - with free-flowing sake (rice wine) and food stalls.

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During this festival to celebrate the Thai New Year,  people throughout Thailand crowd the streets with overflowing buckets and water pistols. Everyone gets very wet!

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Every year thousands of snowmen are made at the Sapporo Snow Festival in Northern Japan

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A modern festival of fire-based art at Black Rock in the Nevada  Desert.

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Aerial View, Black Rock, Nevada Desert

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Malaysia has a sizable Tamil population in the western parts of the country, especially around Kuala Lumpur. During either late January or early February when the moon is full, the Tamils hold one of their most important events. Thaipusam commemorates Murugan defeating an evil spirit called Soorapadman.

During this festival, you’ll see devotees pierce parts of their body, cheeks and tongue. Some carry a Kavadi. A Kavadi is a decorative item that worshipers use to penetrate their body.  Thaipusam is unusual and somewhat unique to the Tamil community.

Thaipusam takes place annually at Batu Caves on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur. Batu Caves has a Hindu temple inside a cave. Visitors need to walk up 272 steps to reach the temple.

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More than 5,000 candle lit floating lanterns in a festival that brings together more than 40,000 Hawaii residents and visitors from around the world.