Buddha’s Birthday

Each spring, Seoul comes alive with glowing lanterns strung along the streets and among the temples in celebration of Buddha’s Birthday. The Lotus Lantern Festival is a 2-week affair of temple events and lantern making, culminating in the famous Lotus Lantern Parade through downtown Seoul, a particular favorite among expats and visitors.

A sea of colorful lanterns and silky traditional hanboks float down Jongro Street; grinning ajummas waving and shouting annyonghaseyo; and the serene smiles of Buddhist monks from temples all over the world. Huge fire-breathing dragon lanterns, phoenixes, tigers and seated Buddhas make those floating cartoon balloons at the Macy’s Day Parade look like a bunch of amateurs.

I don’t often comment on Seoul’s beauty as it is – ahem – in the eye of the beholder? Yes, that sounds about right. But every year this parade, without fail, casts a delicate glow over the city and for one night — I promise you — it is the most beautiful place on earth.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 19th, 2010 at 2:17 am and is filed under Korea, Seoul and tagged with Buddha's Birthday, Lotus Lantern Festival, magic. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.