Birthday of the Lotus

Lotus, Birthday of the

24th day of sixth lunar month

The lotus flower is one of the great symbols of Buddhism. In fact, Buddha is often depicted standing on a lotus flower. This flower, which begins its life in mud under water, pushes up to the surface and rests on top. For this reason the lotus represents life as well as transcendence.
The Birthday of the Lotus is observed at the time of year when lotuses bloom, and people flock to Beijing to see them in its moats and ponds—much as they do in Japan and in Washington, D.C., during cherry blossom time ( see Cherry Blossom Festival). Special lanes for rowboats are cut through the thick layer of lotus blossoms that cover the lakes of the Winter Palace in Beijing.

CONTACTS:
China National Tourist Office
350 Fifth Ave., Ste. 6413
New York, NY 10118
212-760-9700; fax: 212-760-8809
www.cnto.org

SOURCES:
EncyRel-1987, vol. 9, p. 28
FolkWrldHol-1999, p. 417