Sri Lankan Buddhist clergy participating in the Sri Lanka parade

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Sri Lankan Buddhist clergy participating in the Sri Lanka parade

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Sri Lanka Parade at the annual Lotus Lantern Festival in Korea in celebration of Vesak

The Sri Lanka parade this year was organised by the Maha Bodhi Maha Viharaya in Korea under the patronage of the Most Venerable Welahinne Vachissara Thero, with the support of the Sri Lanka Embassy, the Mahamewnawa Meditation Monastery, the Korea-Sri Lanka Maha Viharaya and the Sri Lankan community in Korea, which included Sri Lankan employees and members of the Sri Lanka Students’ Association. 

The Sri Lankan parade included a large lantern replicating the Ruwan Weli Seya, as well as Vesak Lanterns prepared according to the Sri Lankan Buddhist tradition, and Buddhist flags.  Around 100 Sri Lankans participated in the parade despite the rains, making it the largest Sri Lankan parade at the Lotus Lantern Festival in recent times.

The Embassy support for the event was led by the Employment and Welfare section under the leadership of Counsellor / Employment & Welfare Jagath Batugedara in coordination with Sri Lankan Buddhist Temples and the Sri Lankan community based in and around Seoul.  Sri Lanka’s Ambassador Manisha Gunasekera attended the Festival as a special invitee.

The Lotus Lantern Festival has a long tradition of more than 1,200 years and is designated as National Intangible Cultural Property by the Korean government. It attracts one of the largest number of visitors among Korean festivals including diplomats, expatriates and tourists.

Embassy of Sri Lanka

Seoul, Republic of Korea 

18. 05. 2018