Buddha's Birthday Bash

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Written by Bessie on Sunday, April 26, 2009 in Korea, Republic of
Feelin' normal

Every year Seoul has a big street festival & parade in honor of Buddha's birthday: the Lotus Lantern Festival.  I'd never been into a Buddhist temple before this weekend, and I was pretty excited to check a few out.  We weren't alone as foreigners curious about Buddha's birthday, and in fact the organizers made us pretty welcome.  There were booths galore and they made this pamphlet that if you visit so many booths they'll give you a free t-shirt.  We wandered in and out of temples and watched festivities.  
Lotus Lantern Festival, KoreaLotus Lantern Festival, Korea
making lotus lanterns; Shauna, me, and Sarah (also teachers) posing with our lanterns

Lotus Lantern Festival, KoreaLotus Lantern Festival, Korea
celebrating with jenga block stacking

Lotus Lantern Festival, KoreaLotus Lantern Festival, Korea
traditional dancing

Lotus Lantern Festival, KoreaLotus Lantern Festival, Korea
dancing in traditional costumes underneath the lanterns near the temple


Lotus Lantern Festival, KoreaLotus Lantern Festival, Korea
"shrines" where people can pour water over Buddha

And finally, the Bongeunsa Temple:
Lotus Lantern Festival, Korea
the front of the temple

Lotus Lantern Festival, KoreaLotus Lantern Festival, KoreaLotus Lantern Festival, Korea
praying inside the temple;   1 of 3 golden Buddhas;   candle-lit red lanterns


In the evening a parade started.  Probably a few thousand people walked carrying lit lanterns.  Scattered in between were random floats that usually made us laugh or just scratch our heads.
Lotus Lantern Festival, KoreaLotus Lantern Festival, Korea
lit-up coy fish;  proud cow?

Lotus Lantern Festival, KoreaLotus Lantern Festival, Korea
women carrying lanterns

 Lotus Lantern Festival, KoreaLotus Lantern Festival, Korea
woman coming out of a lotus flower;   temple scene



As you've maybe come to enjoy, we put together a video capturing the parade & of course some of the funnier things.

Buddha's official birthday is May 2, so don't forget to get your lantern out and eat some vegan cake.
Lotus Lantern Festival, Korea

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Comments on "Buddha's Birthday Bash "

Don't be shy, tell us "hi"

I love these pics! The colours are so beautiful. What a beautiful concept. This is something I will now put on my list of places/things to see!

by Jane at May 01, 2009 08:15 AM

Wow what a beautiful tradition-the dancing, the colors, the golden buddhas!

by Nancy at May 01, 2009 06:17 PM

So much beautiful color in the celebration! Love the parade video :-D In such a high-tech, highly-integrated world, I wonder if the simplicity in housing and easy releasing of property (throwing out so much "good" stuff! LOL) is a result of placing the sustaining of culture/tradition as top priority?

by mumsie at May 16, 2009 11:26 AM
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