Wesak lanterns come in many shapes and forms – from the simple basic shapes to extremely complex multi-storey affairs. We will begin small. I will describe the making of a simple Wesak Lantern in two stages: first to create a skeleton, and then how to decorate it to give the final product.
You will find the description supported by numerous images taken at its various stages of construction.
Stage 1: Constructing the Skeleton
What you need: * 25 strips of bamboo
* Thread
* An extra pair of hands, if you can find
Step 1-1:
Select bamboo sticks of, say, 0.5 inch/1cm diameter. Cut them to equal lengths of, say, 15 cm each. Bigger the size, bigger the lantern will be. A size of 15cm will give you a manageable size, and to gain experience with.
Now, split the sticks lengthwise into strips of manageable widths. Why bamboo strips? Because they are flexible and easy to work with. You can also select any thin, flexible sticks for the purpose.
For this model, I salvaged the thin sticks from a bamboo table mat.
You will end up with something like these:
Fig 1 - Sticks
Step 1-2:
To build a rectangular lantern, you need 24 strips of bamboo, prepared as above.
We start making square frames. Start with 2 sticks. Holding the two at right angles, tie the junction firmly with a piece of string.
Fig 2: 2 Sticks at right angles
Fig 3: 2 Sticks at right angles - tied
Step 1-3:
Proceed like that with two more sticks and tie the 4 to form a square frame.
Fig 4: A square frame
Step 1-4:
Follow the procedure and make 6 frames altogether.
Fig 5: The 6 frames
Step 1-5:
The task is to take 4 frames and tie one corner of one frame to another and make a chain. I have kept them in a chain to show what is intended.
Fig 6: Chain of 4 frames
Start with two:
Fig 7: Two frames together
Tie the two together:
Fig 8: Two frames tied
Step 1-6:
Now, the task is to fold the chain, and tie the leftmost corner to the rightmost corner together. You end up something like a cage. This is how you fold it over:
Fig 09: Folding over the chain
The two corners tied together and the squares standing up vertical:
Fig 10: The fence complete
Step 1-7:
Now, the task is to use the remaining 2 square frames to make a closed cuboid.
Align one of the remaining frames on the 4 top apexes of the “cage” just built.
Fig 11: A frame aligned on top
Tie the four corners of the top frame to the apexes of the cage:
Fig 12: 4 corners tied
Tie the remaining frame to the 4 bottom vertices of the cage.
Fig 13: 4 bottom corners tied
Now we end up with a sturdy geometrical cuboid.
Fig 14: The cuboid
Step 1-8:
Tie another piece of stick across a frame. Call it the “Top Frame” from now on. The idea of this stick is to allow you to hang a LED or other illuminating device once the lantern is complete.
Fig 15: Light support
Step 1-9:
Decide how to hang it when complete. I have tied a length of string to the two opposite corners of the “top frame” so that the lantern balances correctly, so that you can hang it from a branch of a tree, or the ceiling if you like.
Fig 16: The hanging
Remember to trim the loose bits of strings.
Now it is time to decorate the creation.
Stage 2: Decorating the skeleton
What you need: * The frame skeleton made in Part 1
* Thin tissue paper, to cover the frame skeleton. Preferably white. Crepe paper is also good. In this demo I am using white crepe paper.
* A pair of scissors
* A ruler
* Some form of paste or glue to stick the paper to the lantern frame. Traditionally, people use plain baking flour cooked in a bit water to make a sticky paste. Gooey rice also is good. Other forms of glue could turn out to be problematic as they could show themselves through the paper when they dry out.
* A kitchen towel to wipe yourself from time to time, as most of the paste would end up on you!
Fig 17: What you need
Step 2-1
- Cut squares of paper for four sides of the frame. Only four sides of the frame will be covered. Theoretically, each side has only got to be 15cm wide. But, practice tells me that we cut squares of 15.5cm a side. This needn’t be precise; extras can be trimmed off later.
Fig 18: Paper squares
Step 2-2
- We are also going to cover the eight equilateral triangles with paper. Again, they need to be only 15cm a side. But we allow a bit more. So, we choose 15.5cm a side.
Fig 19: Paper triangles
Step 2-3
- We begin with the four squares. First apply the paste along the ribs of a square of a frame. Use a finger as a brush, if you are not squeamish!
Fig 20: Applying glue
- Now, place a square of paper gently over the coated frame.
Fig 21: Placing paper
- Stretch the paper and remove any slack. The sheet would now resemble a tightly stretched skin of a drum.
Fig 21: Remove slack
- Now you have decorated one side panel:
Fig 22: One side panel
- Repeat the same with the other three vertical panels.
Fig 23: All square panels done
Step 2-4
- Now to the triangles. It is the same process as for the squares. Here, I have done two:
Fig 24: Two triangles done
- Here I have done all:
Fig 25: All panels done
Step 2-5
- Here is the current state, hanging by the support:
Fig 26: Hanging lantern
Boring, isn’t it?
Step 2-6
It is really up to you to make it interesting. Creativity is the limit. I am going to give it a grass skirt!
The skirt is going to be attached to the open bottom-end square of the frame. Since it is going to go over the whole circumference of the square, the skirt is going to be 15*4=60cm wide. How long should it be? You can decide: a micro, mini, or long skirt. I have chosen a longer skirt of 50cm.
Step 2-7
So, we cut a piece 61 (60+1cm for spare!) by 50cm:
Fig 27: Skirt paper
Step 2-8
Then we roll it along lengthwise. What size? I would say, 3-4cm diameter. Leave a margin of about 2cm for sticking the skirt to the frame.
Fig 28: Rolling the paper
Fig 29: Rolled paper
Fig 30: Flattened roll.
Step 2-9 Flatten the roll and slice the flattened roll at about 5mm intervals, or less, making sure to not to separate each slice from the margin!
Fig 31: Slicing
Step 2-10
Once the slicing is complete, unfurl each slice into separate strands.
Fig 32: Unfurl
This is what the skirt looks like, when all the strands are completely unfurled:
Fig 33: Fully unfurled
Step 2-11
Now, stick the skirt along the bottom square of the frame. While you stick, let the strands flow into the lantern.
Fig 34: Stick the skirt
This is how it would look like when complete:
Fig 35: Sticking complete
Step 2-12
Now, turn the creation upside down and shake the strands out of the lantern. Now, hang it from its support. See the difference!
Fig 36: Complete!
How nice it would be in a breeze!
Fig 37: In a breeze
Step 2-13
Now, for further embellishments. Over to you!
You can install LEDs and create different coloured lanterns. So, best to start with white tissue paper.
9. Well, that is it, for this model.
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