Happy Birthday Buddha! (SO lucky to have this experience in ASIA! The lanterns are absolutely outstanding, dazzling, alluring…I could keep going!
Lantern Lighting for Buddha's Birthday: MAY 21ST 2010
As we walked into the temple I insantly noticed this little boy (maybe 4 yrs old) bowing down and praying to Buddha!
Happy Birthday Buddha!
Being in South Korea I have learned that there’s no shortages when it comes to cultural festivities to partake in while being here! South Korea is largely Buddhist and the majority of Korea celebrates the Lantern Festival which runs from May 14-23rd. In Korea Buddha’s birthday is celebrated on May 21st. It is a huge deal and a national holiday. I kind of related it to the way we look at Christmas in the states. This holiday is celebrated annually with many ceremonies, lantern festivals and other fabulous events! It falls on the 8th day of the fourth lunar month.
“Every year, beginning weeks before the actual birthday, some 100,000 colorful paper lanterns bearing caricatures of Buddha adorn the streets of Seoul. Traditional lanterns come in all shapes and colors: lotus lanterns, fruit lanterns, turtle lanterns, fish lanterns, drum lanterns, phoenix lanterns and even dragon lanterns designed to breathe real fire from their throats. The variety of lanterns continues to increase every year.”
I was so thrilled to be able to experience the ‘lighting of the lanterns’ on the 21st, Buddha’s birthday. I arrived at the Lotus Festival around 7pm. There were hundreds of Koreans and foreigners overlooking the main stage under thousands of lanterns. The sight was surreal! It began with Monks hitting gongs with an intense rhythm, Koreans stood watching and praying. After one of the main monks was done with the gong a group of them single filed down to the main stage. On stage there were multiple women bowing in authentic Korean dress as well as multiple monks bowing as well. I also noticed 4 little boys about 7years old dressed in monk attire. One of the monks went up to the microphone and began chanting prayers. Even though it was in Korean I didn’t need to understand the words, the feeling of spirituality came over my body. I was in a totally different world, emerged into such an interesting culture, I instantly felt so fortunate to be able to witness such a neat event! After about an hour of prayers, violinists, and chants there was a countdown, (like new years!) and then the lanterns lit up! It was spectacular! The colors were so enchanting!
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