Lotus Lantern Festival draws thousands in Seoul to celebrate Buddha’s birthday

Thousands of South Koreans filled the streets of Seoul on Saturday for the annual Yeon Deung Hoe festival, celebrating Buddha’s upcoming birthday. Despite the rain, organisers expected around 50,000 attendees, with the evening parade featuring floats carried or rolled through the city centre. The festival, which began over 1,000 years ago, was recognised as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2020 and promotes the teachings of Buddhism worldwide. Eliza Herbert has this story.