AP PHOTOS: Thousands of Buddhists participate in Lotus Lantern Festival in South Korea

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Buddhists carry lanterns in a parade during the Yeon Deung Hoe, or Lotus Lantern Festival ahead of the Buddha’s birthday on May 5, in downtown Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, April 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

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A statue of Buddha is seen in a parade during the Yeon Deung Hoe, or Lotus Lantern Festival, in downtown Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, April 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

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Buddhist monks carry lanterns in a parade during the Yeon Deung Hoe, or Lotus Lantern Festival ahead of the Buddha’s birthday on May 5, in downtown Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, April 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

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Buddhists prepare for a lantern parade during the Yeon Deung Hoe, or Lotus Lantern Festival ahead of the Buddha’s birthday on May 5, at Dongguk University in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, April 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

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Buddhists hold lotus shaped umbrellas as they prepare for a lantern parade during the Yeon Deung Hoe, or Lotus Lantern Festival ahead of the Buddha’s birthday on May 5, at Dongguk University in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, April 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

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Buddhists, including monks, prepare for a lantern parade during a service at the Yeon Deung Hoe, or Lotus Lantern Festival ahead of the Buddha’s birthday on May 5, at Dongguk University in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, April 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

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A Buddhist pours water on a statue of Buddha to celebrate Buddha’s birthday at the Jogye temple in downtown Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, April 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

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Members of band perform in a parade during the Yeon Deung Hoe, or Lotus Lantern Festival ahead of the Buddha’s birthday on May 5, in downtown Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, April 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

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Lanterns are placed before a parade during the Yeon Deung Hoe, or Lotus Lantern Festival ahead of the Buddha’s birthday on May 5, at Dongguk University in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, April 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

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Buddhists carry lanterns in a parade during the Yeon Deung Hoe, or Lotus Lantern Festival ahead of the Buddha’s birthday on May 5, in downtown Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, April 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

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Buddhists holding lanterns watch as a giant lantern moves in a parade during the Yeon Deung Hoe, or Lotus Lantern Festival ahead of the Buddha’s birthday on May 5, in downtown Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, April 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

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People watch a parade during the Yeon Deung Hoe, or Lotus Lantern Festival ahead of the Buddha’s birthday on May 5, in downtown Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, April 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

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Participants wearing lion costumes perform in a parade during the Yeon Deung Hoe, or Lotus Lantern Festival ahead of the Buddha’s birthday on May 5, in downtown Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, April 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

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Buddhists march with a giant lanterns in a parade during the Yeon Deung Hoe, or Lotus Lantern Festival ahead of the Buddha’s birthday on May 5, in downtown Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, April 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

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A participant wearing a costume greets with people in a parade during the Yeon Deung Hoe, or Lotus Lantern Festival ahead of the Buddha’s birthday on May 5, in downtown Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, April 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

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Signs are seen during the Yeon Deung Hoe, or Lotus Lantern Festival ahead of the Buddha’s birthday on May 5, at Dongguk University in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, April 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

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Thai Buddhist monks carrying lanterns march in a parade during the Yeon Deung Hoe, or Lotus Lantern Festival ahead of the Buddha’s birthday on May 5, in downtown Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, April 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

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Visitors cross Cheonggye stream near the lanterns hanging to celebrate Buddha’s upcoming birthday, in downtown Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, April 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

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Cambodian Buddhists march in a parade during the Yeon Deung Hoe, or Lotus Lantern Festival ahead of the Buddha’s birthday on May 5, in downtown Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, April 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

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People take pictures near giant lanterns during the Yeon Deung Hoe, or Lotus Lantern Festival ahead of the Buddha’s birthday on May 5, in downtown Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, April 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

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Buddhists march with a giant lantern in a parade during the Yeon Deung Hoe, or Lotus Lantern Festival ahead of the Buddha’s birthday on May 5, in downtown Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, April 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

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Buddhists prepare for the Yeon Deung Hoe, or Lotus Lantern Festival ahead of the Buddha’s birthday on May 5, at Jogye temple in downtown Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, April 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

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Lanterns hang around Jogye temple ahead of the Buddha’s birthday on May 5, in downtown Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, April 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

By LEE JIN-MAN

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Thousands of Buddhist believers and festival-goers filled downtown Seoul for Yeon Deung Hoe, or the Lotus Lantern Festival. Participants, some dressed in traditional Korean Hanbok clothing, carried lotus lanterns of different shapes and colors.

The festival was originally a celebration rooted in Buddhism but has evolved into an annual cultural event, drawing a large number of participants and spectators each year.

With a history spanning over 1,200 years, the festival is registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity as well as Korea’s National Intangible Cultural Heritage. The festival aims to spread the enlightenment of the founder of Buddhism across the world. More than 300,000 people, including both Koreans and international visitors, take part.

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Participants gather at the starting point of the parade before proceeding toward the heart of South Korea’s capital. Lanterns of all sizes, handmade by temples across the country, are featured.

The lanterns can be in the shape of Buddha sculptures, dragons, elephants, lotus flowers and phoenixes, lighting up the streets of Seoul at night. Smaller lanterns are carried by monks and followers but larger, themed and Buddhism inspired lanterns are transported by vehicles.

Seoul’s Jogye temple and temples across the countries are lit by colorful lanterns as is the Cheonggye stream featuring paper lanterns.

On May 5th, Buddha’s birthday, many Buddhists will visit temples to attend ceremonies in celebration.

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This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.