Seoul all lit up for the Buddha’s birthday
South Korea residents will celebrate Buddha’s birthday with the striking Lotus Lantern Festival known as Yeondeunghoe from May 3 to 5 in downtown Seoul and along the street in front of the Jogyesa Temple.
Designated as Korea’s National Intangible Cultural Property No 122, this 1,200-year-old festival has been promulgated from generation to generation while promoting the community spirit. This year will see people pray for world peace and for the Korean Peninsula to overcome various conflicts.
On May 4, the celebration will begin with the Lantern Parade, in which participants will put a wish message on their lanterns for the continued wellbeing of families, neighbours and society. More than 2,000 foreigners will also join the parade with International Dharma Instructors.
Spread over the Ujeong Park, the Bongeunsa Temple and the Cheonggyecheon Stream, the Traditional Lantern Exhibitions meanwhile displays a wide collection of beautiful paper lanterns in different designs from May 3 to 12.
To mark its 12th anniversary, the Cheonggyecheon Lantern Exhibition is designed around the theme of “A Flower of Peace Comes Out on the Korean Peninsula” and combines people’s aspirations for peace and unification from April 27 to May 12.
During the festival, a group of 60 volunteers from 26 countries will stand by to provide guide and interpretation services for visitors and performs flash mobs at the lighting ceremony, traditional cultural events and at the Tapgol Park.
Find out more at LLF.or.kr/eng