A Festival of Lights: Lotus Lantern Festival

Sumona Sinha, Silchar, Assam

South Korea is not only famous for its beauty products, food, fashion, K-Drama, K-Pop, and technology, Samsung is considered one of the world’s largest smartphone manufacturers, Hyundai etc. but it is also famous for its scenic beauty. There are plenty of things we can enjoy in South Korea, from food to technological advancements to cultural sites to wonders of nature. It is a country of ethics and morality where the honorific title is very much important.

Lotus Lantern Festival also known as 연등회 Yeon Deung Hoe Festival is an annual festival held during the Buddha’s birthday celebrations. It is considered one of the oldest existing festivals being celebrated in Korea. It is also believed that its origins date back to the Silla Dynasty when this festival was established to celebrate Buddha’s birthday and it also continued during the Goryeo Period when Buddhism became the state religion and thus, like this it became a festival which is celebrated on a grand scale. 

Buddha’s birthday is celebrated all over the world where Buddhist temples are located but the main celebration takes place in South Korea where this tradition has over 1300 years of history. This festival is so deeply rooted in their culture that it is considered as the intangible national heritage of Korea. Earlier during its preparations all temples were decorated with handmade colourful lanterns but nowadays readymade lanterns are being used but it doesn’t mean they don’t use handmade ones, some traditional temples still use lanterns in different colours, shape but each has the same design of lotus flower which is a symbol of the disappearance of ignorance and the emergence of wisdom. People also prepare grand ornate lanterns and they often depict figures of deities associated with Buddhism. A week before Buddha’s birthday all grand ornate lanterns take part in the solemn parade that passes through the city’s main streets. Lanterns are being hung up and the city is sparkling with lights.

The lanterns were not only hung in the temples but people also hung them all around the cities. They not only decorate the temples but also the roads of the temple and also in the main city and in the main streets. In Seoul, lanterns are being hung in the entire Cheonggyecheon Stream which is a tourist place. The grand ornate paper lanterns are exhibited in the main Buddhist temples. Grand ornate lanterns are exhibited in the main Buddhist temples and the lanterns depict various characters and forms.

_{Picture Credits: Rove.me}

In Seoul, the places where grand ornate lanterns are exhibited are the Jogyesa Temple, Bongeunsa Temple and the Cheonggyecheon Stream. The lotus lantern festival is celebrated 8 days prior to Buddha’s birthday and on this day a great parade passes through the city with thousands of participants carrying lighted lanterns and the big lanterns are also presented there. The official records say that not only do thousands of local people attend the celebration but a large number of foreigners also attend it.

_{Picture Credits: Korea.net}

The celebration begins with the Buddhist cheer rally in Seoul at Dongguk University where all the participants of the parade meet. On the stage, there are children presenting folk dances in traditional costumes and the most important guests sit at the honorary places. The guests are people who represent Buddhist schools from different parts of the world and they wear their traditional outfits. The stadium is also lit up with colourful lanterns.

_{Picture Credits: Visit Seoul}

The last event starts with a march from Dongguk University along Jongno Street and the entire march lasts up to 1.5 hours on that day Jongno Street is closed for the march past and it can be seen that both sides of the roads are decorated with lanterns and there are thousands of chairs prepared for the people so that they can enjoy the march past comfortably. Before the start of the march, we can hear the sounds of prayer bells and musical instruments. At the end of 2020, the United Nations declared that the lotus lantern festival has received a very special recognition. UNESCO has decided to add this festival to the list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity. 

_{Picture Credits: Visit Seoul}

Let us know in the comment section if you’d like to visit South Korea and experience the Lotus Lantern Festival yourself!