May 12, 2019
Today, or if be exactly yesterday, was the lunar calendar marks a birthday or the day of the arrival of the Buddha. It is a very special day in South Korea.
About the approach of this significant day for all of Korea, it was possible to find out a couple of weeks ago, and maybe even a month, because the streets and parks of the city were gradually decorated with such lamps.
Annual lantern festivals were held in various Korean cities.
Everyone was waiting for the moment when Buddha will come to the world and grace everyone.
There are were many different concerts, performances, acts, special ministries in the buddhist temples and in some open areas as well.
I passed by the small shop near to one of the temples and woman there gave me a fresh and yummy tthok (rice cake) with different dry fruits and nuts.
Buddhists were buying candles, bags with rice and aroma sticks to put it in the temple and to thank Buddha for everything.
And so, on this long-awaited day, monks gathered in all Buddhist temples of Korea, presented common Buddhist associations, and just residents of the country.
In the temples of each visitor they were treated to bean chug (porridge), fruit, tokkom (rice loaf) or some other tasty food.
When I was walking around the Songpa district in the evening I also have seen a line of many people who were carrying lanterns in their hands and walking along the road. That was really beautiful and impressive show.
Happy Buddha's Day!
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