Buddha's 2,555th Birthday Celebrated In South Korea (PHOTOS)

South Koreans took to the streets this week in honor of what is believed to be Buddha's 2,555th birthday.

In Korea, Buddha's birthday reportedly coincides with the eighth day of the fourth month on the lunar calendar, and marked with prayer and contemplation in addition to colorful festivities, including spectacular lantern festivals.

View photos of South Korea's spectacular celebrations below:

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A dog lies down calmly on the floor as South Korean Buddhists monks participate in a service to celebrate the birthday of Buddha as a dog lays down on the floor at Hyonji temple in Chuncheon.

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A dog lies down calmly on the floor as South Korean Buddhists monks participate in a service to celebrate the birthday of Buddha as a dog lays down on the floor at Hyonji temple in Chuncheon.

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CRedfield said on 13 Friday 2011 pm31 3:14 pm: S Korea figured it was easier making all those lanterns than a birthday cake with 2,555 candles.

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Comments

[Joe Reed]

09:16 AM on 05/20/2011

Happy Birthday Buddah.

[Dhammaflame]

07:17 PM on 05/16/2011

One of my favorite books that tell the story of Gotama Buddha. Old Path White Cloud.

http://www.wisdom-books.com/ProductDetail.asp?PID=3764

[kalidescopemind]

12:53 PM on 05/16/2011

Tomorrow will be a happy day in Thailand!

[Dhammaflame]

07:08 PM on 05/16/2011

I bet the sights will be beautiful. And the food....I wish I could be there! I am planting my garden and surrounded by the indifference of nature. I will give metta! Spring is here and the trees are leafing out and bursting with blooms. Birds are singing to their mates and we have a stream singing a merry song at the back of our property.

[kalidescopemind]

10:47 AM on 05/17/2011

Its a national holiday (I was thinking Christmas) and we went to a nice Wat by the river in Chiang Mai. Wat Chai mon kun. We placed eels, turtle amd snails into the river to honor Buddha. Frogs coexisted peacefully with the worshipers at riverside. My wife knows all the protocall, and all I have to do is meditate, pray, follow instructions, and soak up the very relaxing experience in a setting of Thai/buddhist art. Along with a bunch of very happy Thais, they seem truly relieved to be able to practice their religion as a distraction from their day to day lives.

It feels great, and that is as close as I can come to getting you here. Google Thai Wat. Warble warble. ;)

[innerpuppie]

09:02 AM on 05/16/2011

As lovely and peaceful and gentle as the teachings of Buddha are it's puzzling that Asian culture and governments can be so destructive to life and the living.

[CantorSets]

06:26 AM on 05/16/2011

A good time to reflect on the wonderful and challenging philosophy he gave to the world, still as powerful, it will never lose significance. His wisdoms ring through the ages.

The greatest peace I have ever found was through his teachings and the many forms they now take.

[charon]

12:32 AM on 05/16/2011

Happy birthday, Guatama.

[itzjuliusoh]

11:37 PM on 05/15/2011

Why are people commenting on the dog?
You guys are no different than Koreans. You think your better? No your the same, in fact Koreans have a harsher but stronger educational system than you guys. Who cares if your richer or have a higher living standard, they are smarter than you and live a hard working life.

[kalidescopemind]

12:48 PM on 05/16/2011

Buddha would counsel you to control your anger at the ignorant.

[harboreagle2]

02:26 PM on 05/15/2011

The dog was that nights dinner

[BurtonDesque]

10:35 PM on 05/15/2011

Chogye Order monks are sworn to vegetarianism.

[harboreagle2]

01:12 AM on 05/16/2011

whoooooooopeeeeeeeeeeeeee doooooooooooooo burton

[thecid]

03:55 AM on 05/15/2011

Funny, no snarky "religion is for dummies" remarks on the HuffPo...I would think there would be some. Oh wait, article not related to Christianity...

[BurtonDesque]

10:36 PM on 05/15/2011

Repeating yourself only makes you look even dumber.

[thecid]

03:39 AM on 05/15/2011

Wow, where are all the snarky "Religion is for idiots" comments on the HuffPo? I'm surprised. If it was about Christians, then the comments would have came.

[BeamMeUpScottie]

12:26 AM on 05/15/2011

Happy Birthday Bhudda!.

Here's a pic I got of him in Thailand,,,he looked so young.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/airkev/3328929848/in/set-72157614728348013

[CantorSets]

11:15 AM on 05/16/2011

Heh!

Young and thin!

[seereene1]

04:30 PM on 05/14/2011

Lovely pics and the shots of the boy monks in sunglasses with smartphones is priceless.

[kona-apeman]

03:12 AM on 05/14/2011

Here's to 2,555 more.

[CantorSets]

07:48 AM on 05/16/2011

Indeed. You had a pretty good life if 2.5 millennia later people still talk about your teachings!

[Chrystal Ji Davey]

11:49 PM on 05/13/2011

Pic #1:

Emphasis on dog being on floor.

[thecid]

03:40 AM on 05/15/2011

a dog in korea.

[Chrystal Ji Davey]

05:21 PM on 05/15/2011

HAH!
So true, how is this possible??

[Ralph Boyd]

08:44 PM on 05/13/2011

Happy birthday to me.
Happy birthday to you.
Happy birthday everybody
It's our birthday too.

Because we'll all eventually be reincarnated as the Buddha.

[BurtonDesque]

10:14 PM on 05/13/2011

I don't know about you, but my birthday is in March.

[Goliadkin]

06:15 AM on 05/14/2011

Party pooper!

[kalidescopemind]

12:52 PM on 05/16/2011

That is only this time Burton.

[Chrystal Ji Davey]

11:49 PM on 05/13/2011

I love this! :)