Hapcheon-gun Buddha's Birthday Gwangmyeong Peace Tower Lighting Ceremony Held

Brightening the World with Lanterns of Hope and Healing

Buddha's Birthday Celebration Lighting Ceremony of Compassion, Light, and Peace [Image source=Hapcheon-gun]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Soon-kyung] The Hapcheon County Buddhist Association in Gyeongnam announced on the 28th that it held a lighting ceremony for the Tower of Compassion, Light, and Peace to celebrate Buddha's Birthday in the Buddhist calendar year 2565 at the Tower of Compassion, Light, and Peace. About 50 Buddhists participated, including County Governor Moon Jun-hee, Hapcheon County Council Chairman Bae Mong-hee, Gyeongsangnam-do Provincial Council member Kim Yoon-chul, Hapcheon Office of Education Superintendent Jeong Jong-hwa, and Kang Moon-kyu, head of the Nonghyup Bank Hapcheon branch, along with heads of local institutions and social organizations.

The lighting ceremony, which illuminated lanterns of hope and healing, was attended by a minimal number of people to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

The event proceeded in the following order, omitting the first part of the pre-ceremony events: offering of lights, taking refuge, recitation of the Heart Sutra in Korean, reading of the Buddha’s Birthday praise scripture, celebratory lighting, congratulatory speeches by guests, lighting, chanting of Shakyamuni Buddha, circumambulation of the tower, and the fourfold assembly of good wishes.

At the event, Governor Moon said, “I am confident that the beautiful lights lit with sincerity today will become lanterns of hope and healing filled with the Buddha’s compassion and wisdom for all the residents exhausted by the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic and, furthermore, for this world.” He expressed his gratitude to the Hapcheon County Buddhist Association and the Buddhists who prepared the event.

The ‘Lantern of Compassion, Light, and Peace,’ lit with the wish that the whole world be filled with wisdom and light, is expected to provide a unique attraction to tourists and residents visiting the county until the end of May.

Meanwhile, the Hapcheon County Buddhist Association donated 3 million won in cash at this lighting ceremony event to be used for residents facing difficulties due to COVID-19.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.