Buddha's Birthday (석가탄신일, seokga tansinil) is coming soon, which is May 25 (April 8 for lunar calendar) for this year. It's national holiday where Korea used to be only Buddhist (but of course we now have freedom of religion!). Anyways, to celebrate Buddha's Birthday, there is something called "Lotus Lantern Festival (연등축제, yeondeung chukje) in Cheonggyecheon (청계천) area.
Lotus Lantern Festival is a traditional Buddhist ceremony to light up the lotus lanterns and celebrate Buddha's Birthday, also is an Important Intangible Cultural Heritage No. 122. Recently, it turns into a national festival where everyone can enjoy it.
This festival is getting bigger and bigger with larger and splendid lights, so it's great to see during the night time in famous Cheonggyecheon.
The festival period is May 15 to 26, and you have only few more days to see it! If you miss it, too bad - you have to wait until next year :(
Location is at Jogyesa Temple (조계사), Cheonggyecheon (청계천) and Bongeunsa Temple (봉은사). All these places are around line 3 (orange line) Anguk Station (안국역). To Anguk Station, take line 2 at Hongik Univ. Station, then off at Euljiro 3-ga Station(을지로3가역) and transfer to line 3 (orange line), take off at Anguk Station :)
Have fun at the festival!
*Images are from the blog posting related to Lotus Lantern Festival. Please contact us if there's any copyright issue.
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