On Feb 21, 2026, the Lunar New Year Lantern Blessing Festival lit up the Bay Area’s New Year spirit! The festival opened with a spectacular drum performance. Two days of nonstop energy, laughter, applause, drumbeats, and festive cheers filled the air. Every moment felt like the New Year, lively, joyful, and hopeful!
The Mayor of Milpitas joined the celebration, recognizing Bodhi Meditation for its contributions to our diverse cultural community. She honored our community work with a certificate of recognition. Then she surprised everyone by singing for the crowd. Going full-on pop star mode, she had the audience cheering and going wild!
New Year celebrations wouldn’t be complete without prayers for blessings.
Guests offered incense and made light offerings for their families, for peace, and for career success and good fortune. The blessing ritual adds a sense of solemnity and warmth to the New Year celebration. Every corner you turned, you could feel the festive New Year spirit.
The lanterns showcased their brilliant colors against the blue sky. Chinese paper cuttings displayed exquisite craftsmanship. Cultural crafts, childhood games, and food stalls filled the air with nostalgic warmth.
On stage, multicultural performance groups captivated the guests. Different cultures converged here, each one vibrant and charming. From an energetic lion dance to international dance troupes, the stage celebrated the uniqueness of the Bay: diverse, welcoming, and joyful.
As soon as God of Wealth arrived, the crowd surrounded him, hoping to rub off some good luck. Instantly people lined up for selfies, grinning from ear to ear.
The festival came to a perfect conclusion, but the blessings continued.
We wish everyone a healthy, joyful, and peaceful Year of the Horse.
Our sincere thanks to the Mayor for her support,
to the talented performers from diverse cultural communities who shared their traditions with us, to our dedicated volunteers,
and to everyone who joined us and made the day so special.