The annual Lotus Lantern Festival ushering in Buddha’s birthday (which falls this year on May 10) will be held from May 6 to May 8, 2011.
According to Buddhist belief, the lighting of a lotus-shaped lantern symbolizes a devotion to performing good deeds and lighting up the dark parts of the world that are filled with agony. The lantern-lighting practice was developed throughout the Goryeo and Joseon dynasties and has been preserved through public demonstrations such as the lotus lantern service (a Buddhist memorial service held nationwide) and the lotus lantern parade.
The modern-day Lotus Lantern Festival is designed to bring multiracial and multicultural crowds together through an array of festive programs. This year’s event offers visitors the chance to make their own lantern, taste temple dishes, produce rubbings of various Buddhist shapes, and much more.
The lighting ceremony will be held in Seoul Plaza (in front of City Hall) on the evening of April 26th, but the festival will not officially kick off until May 6th, with the traditional lantern exhibition at Bongeunsa Temple. On May 7th the lantern parade (the highlight of the lantern festival) will take place, featuring more than 100,000 massive, illuminated lanterns in the shape of lotus flowers, stupas, elephants, dragons, and more. The sight of these orbs of light bobbing and swaying down the entire length of Jongno is a sight not to be missed!
For more information:http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_6.jsp?cid=1002416
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