Story Title: Lotus Lantern Festival
Episode: 1
Broadcast Date: 2nd November 2013
Presenter: Trevor Cochrane & Kim Syrus

For short-term visitors to South Korea, there's no better way to appreciate the country's true character than to witness one of the many colourful festivals and the Lotus Lantern Festival is certainly one of the most spectacular

Festival of Lights

• The Lotus Lantern Festival is held every year on April 8th (lunar calendar) in honor of Buddha's Birth. The festival is preceded by hanging of lotus-shaped lanterns across Seoul for several weeks, and officially kicks off with lighting of the Jangeumdang, a large lantern that symbolizes Buddhism and Buddha's Birthday, at the Seoul Plaza
• The festival's most impressive sight by far, is the lotus lantern parade, a three hour procession of over 100,000 luminous lanterns and dozens of floats drifting dreamily along to classical Korean music
• The lanterns are shaped like various fruits and animals and of course, the lotus flower, signifying values such as health, virtue and prosperity. This follows the Korean saying: attain Buddha-hood in your next lifetime by lighting a lantern in this life. Each lantern is unique in its material, shape and design, in accordance with the individuality and values of its designer

During the Lotus Lantern Festival, the Buddhist Street Festival provides a hands-on experience for both Koreans and visitors alike. Traditional musical, dance and martial arts performances fill the streets and sacred temple food and traditional Korean treats are available for tasting. There is an exhibit of ornate traditional lanterns and visitors can create their own souvenir lotus lanterns in efforts to attain enlightenment, and to display in the parade.

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