Sunday 8 May 2011

Today is the Last Day of the Yeon Deung Hoe Lotus Lantern Festival

The Yeon Deung Hoe is a traditional Korean folk festival that began in the Goryeo Period (918 - 1392) as the Lotus Lantern Assembly (Yeondeunghoe) and continued in the Joseon Dynasty (1392 - 1910) as the Lantern Celebration (Kwandeung-nori). According to Buddhist beliefs, the act of lighting a lotus-shaped lantern will light up the dark parts of one's soul. By doing this, the evil and flawed parts of one's soul are stripped away leaving only a clean slate to start anew. Lanterns are also lit to dispel the darkness that is in the world, symbolizing one's hope for a wiser and more compassionate society.

This old tradition continues today in the form of the Lotus Lantern Festival, a modern-day annual tradition that offers visitors the chance to experience the Yeondeunghoe and Buddhist culture. This year's Lotus Lantern Festival will take place over three days, from May 6th - May 8th.

This is a video of the 2010 festival............

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