At 7 p.m. on April 26, the annual Yeondeunghoe lantern parade, led by more than 150 large, majestic lanterns, departed from Heunginjimun (Dongdaemun) in Seoul and made a long procession through Jongno Street and Jonggak to Jogyesa Temple. More than 50,000 Buddhists participated in this spectacular parade, each carrying a lotus lantern symbolizing wisdom and compassion, lighting up Jongno Street in multiple hues. 

Welcoming the parade was a special event organized on Jongno Street in front of Tapgol Park to provide a different kind of entertainment for those who were waiting for the procession to arrive. The Friends of Yeondeunghoe, which consists of more than 50 people from 30 countries around the world, including Korea, France, India, and Kenya, performed a flash mob in front of Jongno 5-ga Plaza Market, where they performed a spirited dance to the tune of Buddhist hymns such as “Dancing with Lanterns”, to add to the festival atmosphere. In front of Tapgol Park, the Maha Dance Troupe and Pungmullnori (Korean folk percussion dance) players received applause for their traditional dances and performances.

Most Ven. Jinwoo, the President of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, and the venerables from other Buddhist Orders were joined by the ambassadors of India, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Ukraine, the Netherlands, France, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and Turkmenistan in the outdoor VIP seating area set up in front of Topgol Park.