Seoul Lotus Flower Culture Festival Opens August 7

As this year’s extended monsoon season comes to a close, many people who have taken shelter indoors are ready to go out and see the lotus flowers in bloom across the country. Seoul residents will have the opportunity to see the blossoming flowers right in the city.

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The Seoul Lotus Flower Culture Festival 2013 will be held at Bongwonsa Temple located in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul-si, from August 7-17.

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With a thousand-year history, Bongwonsa Temple is well known for lotus flowers and yeongsanjae* ceremonies. Celebrating its 11th year, the festival this year includes programs such as yeongsanjae, a lotus flower-themed exhibit, a traditional folk painting exhibit, an exhibit of paintings in Chinese ink, Hanji (Korean traditional paper) crafts, and face painting.

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This festival will provide the unique opportunity to be surrounded by the fragrance of lotus flowers at a historical temple with a thousand-year history.

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*Yeongsanjae?

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Yeongsanjae is a Buddhist ceremony performed for the deceased. Originally a large-scale and intricate event, a real ceremony, rather than a simplified performance, typically takes about three hours. Yeongsanjae was designated a UNESCO World Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2009.