Ahead of Buddha's Birthday, also known as the Celebration of the Buddha's Birth, which falls on May 5, 2569 in the Buddhist calendar (2025), a large-scale lantern procession will be held in downtown Seoul on the 26th. A Buddhist cultural experience event is also scheduled for the 27th, leading to expected traffic congestion.
The Lantern Festival Preservation Committee, composed of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism and other Buddhist sects, will hold the lantern procession starting at 7 p.m. on this day. Large ornate lanterns made from lanterns and Buddhist symbols crafted by 50,000 Buddhist believers from temples nationwide are expected to depart from Heunginjimun (Dongdaemun), passing through Jonggak Intersection on their way to Jogyesa Temple.
Before the start of the lantern procession, a water blessing ceremony, known as Gwanbul, will take place at Dongguk University's main athletic field, where participants will bathe the baby Buddha. After the procession, a performance featuring 'trot prodigy' Kim Tae-yeon and others will take place on a special stage in front of Bosingak. Additionally, there will be a Daedong gathering where visitors will join in traditional games like Ganggangsullae and flower rain.
On the 27th, a traditional cultural space will open on Ujeongguk-ro in front of Jogyesa Temple, where visitors can experience Buddhist culture. Attendees can participate in meditation programs or enjoy vegan cuisine.
A small-scale lantern procession will also take place starting at 7 p.m. on the 27th. After the procession, an electronic dance music (EDM) party will be held at a special stage in front of Jogyesa Temple.
The Lantern Festival is a national intangible cultural heritage as well as a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage of humanity. The government plans to control traffic in some areas of Seoul on the 26th and 27th. From 4 p.m. on the 26th until the end of the lantern procession, the road from Dongdaemun to Jonggak Intersection will be gradually controlled. On the 27th, traffic will also be restricted from Anguk Station to Jonggak Intersection. City buses passing through this area will take detours.