Ajumma's Journal: lotus lanterns

Buddha's birthday is celebrated in Korea this year on May 21st. The main image associated with this occasion would be lotus lanterns. Koreans have been lighting these since the Shilla Dynasty (B.C. 57-935 A.D.). What is surprising is that lotus lanterns don't seem to be so prominent in other Asian countries where there are Buddhist devotees even though the flower has long been a symbol of purity, the aspiration to rise above the dirt and dust of worldly cares or above "the mud of delusion" and enlightenment. One source claims that "The lotus lanterns are unique to Korean culture; they cannot be found in Chinese or Japanese Buddhism." What about in India?

According to Ven. Hye-Kyeong, "Athough the blossom remains clean, it doesn't force its surroundings to get cleaner. Buddha also teaches that everything has a purpose - even dirt. If there is no dirt, there is no need for lotus blossoms as well." Hmmm.

All I know is it's not easy work making these lanterns. Each paper petal and leaf is stuck by hand onto a wire frame with sticky starch and usually each temple or hermitage is decked out with hundreds or even thousands of these each year. I'm guessing from one visit in spring that an army of ajumma volunteers prepare the 연등 or yeondeung or lotus lantern weeks before the celebrations begin. Question is: what happens to them afterwards? Are they relegated to some bonfire as a some symbolic gesture or are they recycled or used again the following year? Surely Buddha wouldn't object to the latter in these environmentally-critical times?