In Seoul, South Korea, the Lotus Lantern Pageant, domestically generally known as Yeon Deung Hoe, just lately introduced pleasure and colour to the wet streets, drawing roughly 50,000 attendees in anticipation of Buddha’s birthday the next week.
This vibrant annual occasion, which dates again over a millennium and was acknowledged as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2020, is well known with a grand parade that showcases each the wealthy cultural heritage and the religious message of Buddhism.
Regardless of the downpour, the festivities started at Seoul’s Dongguk College, the place 1000’s congregated earlier than marching in direction of the Jogyesa Temple. Alongside the way in which, members, clad in raincoats, carried illuminated pink lotus lanterns and flowers. The parade featured a spectacular array of floats, starting from symbolic representations like child Buddhas and the 4 Heavenly Kings — legendary guardians towards evil — to majestic animals akin to tigers, elephants, and an unlimited dragon. Including a contemporary twist, some floats additionally depicted in style cartoon characters like Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and Lucy, mixing conventional themes with modern popular culture.
On the Jogyesa Temple, the celebration reached a picturesque peak. 1000’s of colourful lanterns had been displayed, artfully organized to spell out the phrase: “It’s peaceful just the way it is,” seen from above. This show not solely beautified the temple grounds but in addition strengthened the competition’s core message of peace and serenity, embodying the enlightenment beliefs propagated by Buddhism.
Buddha’s birthday, which is a nationwide vacation in South Korea, falls on the Wednesday following the competition. It’s a day when many temples throughout the nation open their doorways to supply free meals and tea to the general public. The vacation is additional marked by an array of cultural actions held in temple yards and parks, together with conventional video games and quite a lot of inventive performances.
The Lotus Lantern Pageant serves as a profound reminder of the enduring religious and cultural traditions of Korea. It attracts 1000’s of tourists, each native and worldwide, who come to expertise the magnificent lantern shows, the communal pleasure of the parade, and the deeper message of common peace and enlightenment that the occasion celebrates. This competition not solely honors the birthday of Buddha but in addition fosters a way of group and shared human values, resonating with members lengthy after the lanterns dim.
The submit South Korea celebrates Lotus Lantern Pageant, with parades and floats appeared first on Journey And Tour World.
