වෙසක්(부처님 오신 날) ~에서 🇰🇷 대한민국

Vesak in South Korea, known as Bucheonim osin nal or simply Seokga Tansinil (Buddha's Birthday), falls on the eighth day of the fourth lunar month, typically in May, and is a national public holiday. The celebration is one of the most visually spectacular religious festivals in East Asia.

The highlight is the Yeon Deung Hoe, the Lotus Lantern Festival, held in Seoul and across the country. Thousands of colorful paper lanterns in the shape of lotus flowers, dragons, and other figures are paraded through the streets of central Seoul in a dazzling nighttime procession. The parade along Jongno draws hundreds of thousands of spectators and has been recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Buddhist temples across Korea, including Jogyesa in Seoul, Haeinsa, and Bulguksa, hold special ceremonies. Devotees participate in the ritual bathing of the baby Buddha statue with sweet tea, symbolizing the purification of greed, hatred, and ignorance. Temples offer free meals of temple food, the sophisticated vegetarian cuisine of Korean Buddhism.

In the weeks before Buddha's Birthday, temples are festooned with thousands of paper lanterns, creating a dreamlike atmosphere. Visitors make lanterns and write wishes on paper tags attached to them. The celebration has grown beyond the Buddhist community to become a beloved cultural event enjoyed by Koreans of all beliefs.

The most sacred Buddhist holiday marking the birth, enlightenment, and death of Gautama Buddha, observed with meditation, temple visits, candlelit processions, and acts of generosity.