The Indian Embassy and Dongguk University commemorated Buddha’s Birthday with a lantern lighting ceremony on Thursday.

Buddha’s Birthday is celebrated in Korea on the eighth day of the fourth lunar month, which this year falls on May 5.

More than 500 people attended the ceremony to see the lighting of 16,000 lanterns representing Buddhist compassion, wisdom and spiritual bonds, according to the embassy, underscoring India’s deep Buddhist heritage.

“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 Korean pilgrims every year,” said Indian Ambassador to Korea Amit Kumar at the event.

Mahaparinirvana refers to the ultimate state of enlightenment and liberation attained by the Buddha at the time of his physical death, symbolizing eternal peace and complete freedom from suffering.

“The spread of Buddhism from India to Central Asia, China, the Far East, and eventually to Korea and Japan — including through maritime links — is a remarkable civilizational journey,” said Kumar.

“It was carried not by conquest but by monks, scholars and seekers,” he added.

Indian monks like Marananta and Ado introduced Buddhism to Korea in the 4th century, while others such as Yeongi and Jigong Seonsa played key roles.

Mukhoja, a monk from the ancient Korean kingdom of Goguryeo, who is credited with spreading Buddhism to the neighboring Silla kingdom during the reign of King Nulji, is also believed to have been of Indian origin.

According to the embassy, milestones of Indo-Korean cultural exchange include India’s gift of a statue of the Buddha to Tongdosa temple in 2021 and, in 2023, a 1,200 km walking pilgrimage across sacred Indian Buddhist sites undertaken by 108 senior monks from the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism to mark the 50th anniversary of India-Korea diplomatic relations.

“Lord Buddha’s core teachings — the Middle Path, the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path — offer timeless guidance in today’s turbulent world. They speak to inner peace amidst anxiety, non-violence in times of conflict, and mindful living in an age of distraction,” said Kumar.

During the event, Kumar and Ven. Donkwan, chairperson of Dongguk University, agreed to strengthen university linkages, research on Buddhist scriptures, and academic exchanges for deeper India-Korea cultural engagement, according to a press release.