SEOUL, April 14 (AJP) - India’s Ambassador to South Korea Amit Kumar and his spouse participated in a lantern lighting ceremony at Dongguk University in Seoul on Apr. 9 to celebrate the birth anniversary of Buddha.
The event, organized by Dongguk University with the participation of the Embassy of India in the Republic of Korea, was attended by over 500 people and featured the lighting of 16,000 lanterns.
“This celebration holds profound meaning for both India and Korea,” Ambassador Kumar said during an opening speech session. “In India, there is deep reverence for the teachings and philosophy of Lord Buddha. As the land of his enlightenment and Mahaparinirvana, India is home to some of the most sacred sites in Buddhism, visited by thousands of South Korean pilgrims every year.”
Held on the university’s campus, the ceremony symbolized the spiritual and cultural ties between India and South Korea, brought to life by the sea of lanterns representing compassion and wisdom. The ambassador noted the unique civilizational journey of Buddhism across Asia, not by conquest, but through monks, scholars, and seekers.
“Lord Buddha’s core teachings, the Middle Path, the Four Noble Truths, and the Eightfold Path, offer timeless guidance in today’s turbulent world,” he said. “They speak to inner peace amidst anxiety, non-violence in times of conflict, and mindful living in an age of distraction.”
The ambassador also reflected on the deep-rooted Buddhist connections between the two countries, citing architectural influence from India in early Silla temples, and the historic journey of Korean monk Hyecho, who traveled to India in the 8th century and wrote one of the earliest foreign travelogues of the country.
During his visit to South Korea, Ambassador Kumar said he had the opportunity to visit several temples and praised the country’s rich Buddhist history. He added that India is prioritizing restoration and development of major pilgrimage sites and working with partner countries like South Korea to preserve manuscripts, promote academic research, and expand spiritual tourism. He also highlighted the Indian government’s recent decision to designate Pali, a language used by Buddha, as a classical language.
Citing recent examples of India-South Korea Buddhist exchanges, Kumar mentioned the 2021 donation of a statue of Buddha to Tongdosa Temple, which was founded by monks who had traveled to India. The temple was built near Mount Yeongchuk, whose shape resembles the Rajgir mountain range where Buddha preached the Dhamma.
In 2023, more than 100 senior monks from South Korea’s Jogye Order undertook a 1,200-kilometer pilgrimage across India’s sacred Buddhist sites to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries. “I was privileged to meet them in Lucknow, where the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh hosted them,” he said.
Reflecting on the ceremony itself, Ambassador Kumar said, “I am deeply moved by the 16,000 lanterns lit today, each symbolizing a prayer, a hope, and a commitment to compassion.” Quoting Buddha, he added, “Thousands of candles can be lit from a single flame, and the life of the candle will not be shortened.”
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
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