Lotus Lantern Festival is one of the most important events in Seoul. The event is held every year to commemorate the birth of Lord Buddha. Various types of lanterns are displayed during this event. Every year several devotees, both nationals and foreigners join in to celebrate the event. The Lotus Lantern Festival in Seoul takes place in the form of a procession, which starts at Dongdaemun Stadium and ends at Jogyesa Temple. People march with colorful lanterns of various shapes and sizes in order to celebrate the birth of Buddha.
Description of the Lotus Lantern Festival
On the festive day, people make lanterns and print them with traditional Korean patterns. Lotus Lantern Festival of Seoul attracts a huge number of tourists, who gather at the city to have a glimpse of the
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traditional Korean culture. The lanterns used during the festival vary in shapes and sizes. Some lanterns are small featuring the shape of lotus flowers while some are big. The big lanterns are carried by groups. There are also lanterns in the shape of Buddhas, dragons and elephants.
During the festival, Zen meditation is also practiced by some people under the guidance of Buddhist monks. However in the afternoon Buddhist monks and children perform in the streets, which are also a part of the procession. Children dressed in their traditional wears or hanboks perform on the streets of Jongno while proceeding to the Jogyesa Temple. The other important feature of the parade is 'Poongmullori' or the traditional percussion music of Korea. B-boy performances also deserve special mention. The parade starts at 7 in the morning and continues throughout the day and ends at the Jogyesa Temple.
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