Dates
April 24 - May 21
All around the precincts of Buddhist temples throughout the countryside, thousands of Buddhists hang lotus lanterns of various colors several days before Buddha's birthday each spring, praying for their wishes. The Lantern Festival is presented to celebrate the birth of Buddha who gave lectures on wisdom and mercy in India 2,600 years ago, and for reviving the teachings among people. His birthday falls on 8th of the 4th lunar month each year. The Lantern Parade, performed splendidly along downtown streets on the Sunday just before Buddha's Birthday, adds to the festive mood.
Venue
Jongno area (Jogyesa(temple), Insa-dong, & Jonggak Intersection)
Main Place
Chogye-sa temple, Chongno-gu, Seoul.
Event Programs
The Lotus Lantern Festival is full of programs that can be enjoyed from early morning until late at night. Hands-on experiential activities will make for lasting memories: You can experience free of charge how to make lanterns; 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 posture for prayer and breathing under the guidance of a Buddhist priest given in a foreign language. You can also dress up in traditional Indian attire and have your photo taken. Or you can create a traditional Korean pattern motif using your own color scheme. Many more new and exciting experiences are awaiting you, and most are free.
The afternoon performances are especially fascinating. Children dressed in traditional hanbok (traditional Korean clothing) and other costumes will act, sing, and play music. On the streets of Jongno leading up to the Jogyesa Temple, various dance and instrumental works originating from Korean Buddhism will be performed by Buddhist priests themselves. If you want to see this eye-catching performance with Buddhist priests in their brilliant Buddhist attire, it is important to get there early to reserve a spot. Also, dynamic performances of poongmullori (traditional Korean percussion music that combines ritual, dance, theatre, and acrobatics) fill the streets from Jongno to Insa-dong. The b-boy performances are also well worth seeing.
Festival Highlights
After taking in the excitement of the Lotus Lantern Festival, be sure to have a quick dinner before reserving a good vantage point in Jongno. You won't want to miss the breathtaking sight of the lotus lantern parade in the streets of Jongno that begins at 7 p.m., starting from Dongdaemun Stadium and ending at the Jogyesa Temple.
There is an endless array of lanterns, from adorable lotus lanterns that can be held with one hand to dragon-shaped lanterns that have to be supported by a group, as well as large lantern floats shaped like dragons, elephants, and Buddha's that are attached to vehicles.
Visitors will be enchanted by the beautiful lanterns gracing the streets of Jongno, which is usually jammed with traffic. Once the parade is over, be sure to walk to the streets in front of the Jogyesa Temple to enjoy various events celebrating the finale. Thousands of participants and tourists join at the streets in front of the Jogyesa Temple to sing and dance in harmony as countless pink paper blossoms rain down from above.
