Buddha’s Birthday in Seoul – Seoul, South Korea

Buddha’s Birthday in Seoul
Seoul, South Korea

I stood quietly in the riot of color and noise, bathed in the warm light of thousands of colorful lanterns bearing images of Buddha, dragons, white elephants and lotus flowers. Before me marched robe-clad groups of monks and nuns and throngs of people dressed in brightly colored hanboke, Korea’s traditional dress. Other people on the street wore plain street cloths presenting a modern contrast to the otherwise, almost medieval atmosphere. Blanketing the street came the sounds of droning Buddhist chants and Korean folk music. The sides of the road were packed with believers and interested folks, like myself, who have turned out for this spectacular scene. Welcome to the Lantern Festival celebrating the 2,548^th Birthday of Buddha in downtown Seoul, Korea, 2004.

Buddhist temple preparing for the big day! Every year, I look forward to seeing the strings of brightly colored lanterns strung up along the streets. Although I am not Buddhist, this holiday always feels a bit like Christmas Eve to me – a joyous anticipation leading up to this unique and spectacular evening and a sense of peace and serenity afterwards. If you want a chance to experience Korea’s Buddhist heritage, Buddha’s Birthday is an extraordinary place to start.

For more information about the Lantern Parade and other festivities, visit here. about Buddhism in Korea, visit this site.

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Brandon Walcutt is a university professor, history buff and budding travel writer based in Seoul, Korea. He can be contacted at travelingman2 at lycos dot com.