<< LANTERN PARADE >>
As Buddha's Birthday (Cho pa il - the 8th day of April in lunar calendar)
approaches, temples in each district combine their
efforts to organize the annual lantern parade. Buddhists march through
the streets with various buddhist floatings, such as a large water lily,
an elephant, a dragon and wood blocks, with their lanterns in hand.
Of the many parades across the nation, the Seoul parade is the largest
with about 30,000 monks and lay Buddhists participating. Because this
parade emphasizes a festive celebration for the birth of Buddha rather
than the ideology of Buddhism, the parade is very unique, joyous and sublime.
On-lookers can get a good glimpse of Korean Buddhsim at this parade.
This event, above all others, is designed so that anybody can directly
participate, by making lantern and also joining the parade carrying their
lanterns.
They light up their lanterns, in a variety of colors, as in to
brighten a dark world on the night of Buddha's Birthday.
On that night, you will see a sea of lanterns that will leave a lasting
impression. this lantern festival has a history of 1,300 years.
While Buddhism was first introduced to Korea about 1,600 years ago.
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