Celebrating the birth of Buddha

The Lotus Lantern Festival, which is held to commemorate the birth of Buddha, is an important annual festival in Seoul, which brings together Korean and foreign Buddhist devotees as well as the general public. Don’t miss your chance to see this spectacular festival, which is held in the downtown area of Jongno and Dongdaemun between the 2 – 4th May 2008.

This long-revered tradition includes a prayer ritual in which people make wishes as they hang lotus-shaped lanterns. In addition to various lantern exhibitions, the Lotus Lantern Festival features Buddhist events as well as traditional folk events all day long.

One of the highlights of the event is the ‘Lantern Parade’, where Dragon Lanterns, Pagoda Lanterns, White Elephant Lanterns, Pheonix Lanterns and Lotus Lanterns are all on display. With dozens of large floats and some 100,000 individual lanterns, the parade offers a breathtaking experience, turning the streets of Seoul into a sea of Lanterns.

The Lotus Lantern Festival is full of programmes that can be enjoyed from early morning until late at night. Hands-on activities will make lasting memories: You can experience how to make lanterns free of charge; print or engrave traditional Korean patterns; enjoy face painting (pictures such as a lotus and fish are painted on your face); study and practice Zen meditation – learn the proper posture for meditating and breathing – under the English guidance of a Buddhist monk.

For more information go to LLF.or.kr/eng.