Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Lotus Lantern Festival

"Please attain Buddhism in your next lifetime by lighting a lantern in this life.''

This past weekend I attended the Lotus Lantern Festival in Seoul. Its Buddha's birthday this Friday and the way Buddhists prepare for it here is with the Lotus Lantern Festival. The weekend is comprised of all things lantern. There are lantern making festivities around the
Jogye Temple as well as many other festival activities that locals and tourists alike can part take in all in preparation for the Lotus Lantern Festival parade. I didn't partake in the lantern making activities but I did attend the parade and watched all the crazy lantern floats where they were shown off in all there glory as well as all the people proudly marching down the street carrying their own personal lanterns lighting up the darkness. Here are some pics, I took a bunch and this is just a sample.




















Animatronic elephants





Fire breathing dragons



















Buddha in a helicopter



I know its a Buddhist symbol but is still strange to see marching down the street



Especially when its presented like this. They are waving, but from this angle it looks like they are saluting. Good thing the car wasn't a Volkswagen.


1 comment:

  1. What's funny is how the two swastikas are going different directions. The car tire I believe is the correct Buddhist symbol and the gentlemen in the picture above that one got it Nazi.

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