The Bundaberg Botanic Gardens is celebrating the annual Japanese Star Festival called Tanabata by giving visitors the opportunity to take part in a traditional wish activity.
The festival celebrates the coming together of two stars, Altair and Vega, who are normally separated by the Milky Way.
This year, the Botanic Gardens will host the traditional festival activity involving writing a wish on a piece of coloured paper, called a tanzaku.
The paper and a piece of string can be collected from Café 1928 which is then to be hung on the bamboo at the Japanese Gardens.
Participants will be asked to look up at the brightest star in the night sky on Wednesday, 7 July to help make their wish come true.
Bundaberg Regional Council’s parks and gardens portfolio spokesperson Cr Wayne Honor said it was a great opportunity for residents to learn more about different traditions and celebrate culture.
“With a range of cultures present throughout our community, the Tanabata provides people the chance to be involved in a Japanese tradition,” Cr Honor said.
“I encourage everyone to get down to the Botanic Gardens and take up the opportunity to take part in the Tanabata.”
Bamboo is used within the festival due to the belief that it will grow taller and higher to reach the sky during the night of 7 July, sending people’s wishes to the milky way.
The festival activity was held in the region for the first-time last year at Forestview Kindergarten.
The idea originated from teacher Yuka Thomson who wanted to introduce traditional activities to the community.
The Bundaberg Botanic Gardens is open seven days a week from 5.30am to 6.30pm.
Cafe 1928 is open from 9 am – 3 pm Monday to Saturday and 9 am – 4 pm Sunday.
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