Lotus Lantern Festival to Illuminate Seoul

Release yourself from stress and pressure with lovely lit lanterns at temples scattered around the country. Temples and Buddhists celebrate Buddha’s Birthday, which falls on May 2 this year. / Korea Times File

By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter

Buddha's Birthday is just around corner and temples around the country are gearing up for interesting, educational and religious events to celebrate. The coming of Buddha is celebrated annually on the eighth day of the fourth lunar month ― it falls on May 2 this year.

In line with the festivity, Jogye Temple in Seoul, the headquarters of the largest Jogye Order of Buddhism, holds a special Lotus Lantern Festival every year.

There is a Buddist saying that goes: ``Please attain Buddhism in your next lifetime by lighting a lantern in this life.''

Through lotus lanterns, not only does the dark become bright, but Buddhists believe that the light brings enlightenment to those who are in pain and are lost. This year, the Jogye Order has expanded the festival.

``We managed to extend the festival to two days, plus an exhibition that starts on April 24. The famous parade has also changed from its original route, which started at Dongdaemun Stadium. Now, the parade will start at Jangchung Gymnasium,'' Park Sang-hee, the team leader of the Celebration Committee for Buddha's Birthday, told The Korea Times.

The streets around Seoul City Hall and Cheonggye Stream have already been decorated with big and small lanterns.

Starting off the festival is Bongeun Temple in Seoul, which will hold a special exhibition of traditional lanterns from April 24 through May 5. The temple will display beautifully lit lanterns in various shapes and sizes, a perfect way to provoke curiosity and also introduce Buddha's birthday and the festival at the same time.

Bongeun Temple is located near exit 6 of Samseong Station on subway line 2.

On April 25, the streets of Insa-dong, one of Seoul's best known streets, will be crowded with visitors as the festival kicks off its ``Eve Celebration.''

``Many festivals have an eve event, and we also wanted to offer a hint of what the festival will be like to passersby and visitors. By carrying out the event in Insa-dong, we believe we will be able to attract foreigners and locals all at once,'' Park said.

The Eve Celebration will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. in Insa-dong and the main street in front of Jogye Temple, located near exit 6 of Anguk Station on subway line 3.

The main event will start on April 26, starting with a Buddhist Street Festival. Carried out on the streets on front of Jogye Temple, visitors can participate in various activities, including making their own lotus lanterns, Buddha painting, learning how to meditate, and savoring temple food and more. The festival committee advises to check what you want to participate in with the festival guide booklet beforehand, as it will be tiring ― and impossible ― to try out everything prepared at the 100 booths.

Among them, some of the most popular ones are the lantern-making, shopping, food and Pan-Asian booths.

At the lantern making booth, foreigners and local visitors can make their own lotus lanterns and take them home. From small mini-lanterns made with paper cups to larger ones the size of volleyballs, participants can decorate their lanterns as colorfully as they wish.

The lotus lantern custom goes a long way back in history. For Korea, the oldest records regarding the lanterns are from the Silla Kingdom (B.C. 57-935 A.D.) The lotus blossom represents purity and Buddha, and so it has been depicted in many paintings, decorations and sculptures in Buddhist scenes.
Unlike other flowers, the lotus normally blooms in dirty swamps and lakes. No matter how dirty the water and surroundings may be, the blossom remains clean. This feature of the flower allowed Buddhists to believe that Buddha himself was like the lotus ― clean despite dirty surroundings.

The shopping section offers various ornaments, decorations and souvenirs related to the Buddhist faith, while the food booth will present various recipes and dishes for guests.

Temple food is basically food made and served by monks and Buddhists at temples. The diet has moved outside of temples these days, and has become popular among health-conscious eaters. Temple food does not include meat and is made with seasonal vegetables from mountains and gardens. The recipes also exclude five ingredients called ``ohshinchae,'' namely garlic, green onions, leeks, wild rocamboles and Chinese squill. The five ingredients are known to bring bad luck, evil spirits and lust.

From Buddhist sushi made with rice and vegetables to local favorites such as rice cakes, bibimbap and lotus leave tea will give visitors a culinary experience from within the Buddhist world.

At the Pan-Asian area, Buddhists from countries such as Taiwan, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Myanmar will offer their distinctive culture of the religion to visitors. From dances, songs and costumes to food, guests will have the chance to take a glimpse of Buddhism as practiced in other Asian countries ― a perfect opportunity for both education and entertainment.

At sunset when shadows invade the streets, the festival will continue with the Lantern Parade. With all types of colorful lanterns parading the streets of Seoul, guests will get to witness an ocean of bright yellow and orange lights. A total of 100,000 lanterns made by Buddhists will decorate the dark and gray streets of Seoul, some shaped as lotus flowers and others as pagodas, elephants and even robots and cartoon characters.

The parade will start at Jangchung Gymnasium and continue through Jongno street and finally come to an end at Jonggak Intersection. Join in anytime as the parade organizers will offer you small lanterns along the way.

Jangchung Gymnasium is located near exit 5 of Dongguk University Station on subway line 3.

As soon as the parade arrives at the intersection, there will be a grand celebration called the ``Daedong Celebration'' to wrap up the two day event.

``Daedong'' means ``being together,'' and the last schedule will be a grand party where visitors can join in, dance, sing and celebrate Buddha's Birthday. To get to Jonggak Intersection, get off at Jonggak Station on subway line 1.

``Through the festival, we sublimate our individual consciousness that seeks to achieve our own desires, and illuminate the darkness in our minds through overflowing wisdom and compassion, offering our collective prayer for the entire world,'' the festival committee said through a statement.

On May 2, temples dotted across the nation will carry out a special Buddhist service at 10 a.m. and also have a special lotus lantern ceremony at 6 p.m., praying and wishing for the well-being and happiness of the nation.

The festival will be carried out April 24-26. English, Chinese and Japanese interpreters will be present throughout the event. For more information, visit www.llf.or.kr or call (02) 2011-1744.

sanghee@koreatimes.co.kr

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