Yeondeunghoe (연등회) or Lotus Lantern Festival is a lantern-lighting festival which celebrated Buddha's day. The festival has a vast history since SIlla Dynasty. It was designed as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity and since December 2020 and Korea's National Intangible Cultural Heritage No. 122 . The festival is held each year one week before Buddha's around April.
Due to COVID-19 the festival was held online during last year 2021, but this year, as the social distancing rules were lifted the festival took place offline.
The main venue was installed around Jogyesa temple in Jonggak, where both Koreans as well as foreigners could enjoy different free workshops.
As I visited the place exactly during the last day of the festival, 1st of May, I could enjoy the free last workshop. Also as the last day of the festival was during weekend, all the place was filled with families enjoying their Sunday, kids who were participating at different workshops as well as eldery enjoying the different performances.
Me and Tony we had the chance to actually enjoy two workshops, one was a mini lantern making.
We actually had the chance last year to actual do an actual Lotus Lantern, so we knew the way to do it.
All the materials were free and we could also choose the colors we want to add to our lotus flower.
I really loved the colors, as mint and fresh green color are my favorite colors, the lantern looked really pretty.
Another workshop we had the chance to try, was making a paper flower. This was an unique experience as was my first time doing.
Besides the workshops, the visitors also can enjoy the lantern exhibition around Jogyesa temple and on the street.
Also the Jogyesa temple has a special arrangement during the festival. Filled with lanterns that are actually hanged by the visitors where they write their name or family names on them. The white lanterns are for the dead ones and colored ones for alive ones. As you may know in Asian countries, as you may know, white is the color used during funerals.
Another thing that people can enjoy during the festival are the lantern exhibition which are exposed around Seoul. There are a few location in Seoul such as Bongeunsa temple, Insadong and Cheonggyecheon Stream. As Cheonggyecheon is quite close by the main festival venue, we also took a walk around it in the evening and the view was stunning.
The theme of the lantern this year is lotus flower. Each year the theme is changed, so if you didn't have the chance to visit it this year, don't worry, next year you will have the chance to enjoy it again. The exhibition will be on till May 10th.
The stream has quite a history, as was established back in Joseon Dynasty under the name Gacheon. The name was changed to Cheonggyecheon during the Japanese occupation and was almost covered during that times, with a few attempts. After the Korean War more people moved to Seoul and established their houses around the stream, transforming it in a really shabby place.
The modernization of the place started in 1958 and it was covered up with concrete for 20 years, while the highway was constructed in the surrounding becoming a great example f modernization and industrialization for urban places.
More details about the festival can be found through the link below:
Jogyesa temple address:
55 Ujeongguk-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Cheonggyecheon Stream:
1 Cheonggyecheon-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul