In its tenth year, a traditional Japanese floating lanterns ceremony commemorating the victims of the World Trade Center tragedy will take place on Sunday, September 11 at Pier 40 (south side) from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Reverend Alfonso Wyatt, Vice President of The Fund for City of New York, will lead the ceremony with the assistance of Reverend T. Kenjiutsu Nakagaki of The New York Buddhist Council, The Interfaith Center of New York – a coalition member of Prepare New York, New York Kayak Company, NY de Volunteer, UNITED SIKHS, New York Kayak Company, New York City Downtown Boathouse, Long Island City Community Boathouse, September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows, and other religious leaders representing many different faiths.
This ritual is similar to one held in Japan each year where people gather in memory of the victims of the atomic bombings and other wars. Special to this year’s event will be greetings from Commissioner Fatima Shama from the NYC Mayor’s Office of Immigration Affairs and the Japanese and Japanese American community, and musical performances from Japanese and American artists including Taiko Drummer Kaoru Watanabe, Composer Russell Daisey, Soprano Tomoko Shibata, Recording Artist Shinji Harada, and Saxophonist Paul Winter. The ceremony ends with Buddhist Sutra Chanting as lit lanterns are placed in the water.
The ceremony is opened to the public at no cost. Pier 40 is located at the west end of Houston Street and can be reached by taking the #1/9 subway to Houston Street and walking west.
