We didn't know that Buddhist lantern sculptures had been set up on little platforms set up in the water. I think that the lantern sculptures are the same ones that will be used in the Lotus Lantern Festival parade that takes place every year. Check out this link for more info on the parade.
| Lotus Lantern Parade | Sunday April 26 19:00~21:30 | Jongno street from Dongdaemun Stadium to Jogyesa Temple |
The parade is one of the best experiences one can have as a foreigner visiting Korea as a tourist, or as an English instructor living and working here. I strongly urge anyone who has never gone to make time and go. This year will be my fifth time going, and I'm totally excited about going again.
I also strongly recommend going to the Buddhist Culture Street Fair held on Sunday April 26--the same day as the parade that is held in the evening. The main city street is shut down and tons of tent booths are set up with live performances with exhibits of Buddhist culture everywhere, and you can make your own paper lantern . . . it's also, of course, a photographers heaven in terms of picture opportunities, lol.
Here's some more info.
☞When : Friday April 24,2009 – Sunday April 26 2009
☞The Lotus Lantern Festival 2009
| Event | When | Where |
| Lantern Lighting Ceremony | Unfixed (in April) | Seoul Plaza |
| Exhibition of Traditional Lanterns | Friday April 24~Wednesday May 5 | Bongeunsa temple, Samsung-dong |
| Festival Evening Celebrations: Yeondeungnori | Saturday April 25 19:00~21:00 | Insa-dong street ~ Front street of Jogyesa Temple |
| Buddhist Culture Street Fair | Sunday April 26 12:00~19:00 | Front street of Jogyesa Temple |
| Eoulim Madang | Sunday April 26 13:00 | Jangchun Gym |
| Lotus Lantern Parade | Sunday April 26 19:00~21:30 | Jongno street from Dongdaemun Stadium to Jogyesa Temple |
| Daedong ‘Being Together’ Celebration | Sunday April 26 21:30~23:00 | Jonggak |
| Buddhist Service & Ceremony celebrating Buddha’s birthday | Saturday May 2 10:00 (Ceremony 18:00) | Jogyesa Temple & nationwide temples |
We walked along the section of the stream that has the lantern sculptures and took a lot of pics. I'm not going to write comments for each picture because they really don't require narrative or comments to understand them and hopefully enjoy them too.
Enjoy,
J
Arrgh! I was just down there but didn't know about this! I'll have to make a return trip sometime this week before all the hoopla starts. Great pics! It really looks nice.
ReplyDeleteI don't know how long the lantern sculptures will be down there--if they aren't used in the parade then I imagine they'll be there for at least another couple weeks . . .
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading.
J