A Celebration of Seollal and Cultural Diplomacy at Korean Cultural Centre India

Across the world, the new year is a time for celebration as well as reflection. It is a time to celebrate the year gone by and to make fresh beginning for the upcoming year. While the Gregorian calendar is followed in large parts of the world, including India and South Korea, there is also a traditional new year celebrated in both these nations.

In India, this new year celebration is celebrated differently across various cultures and regions. For instance, it is celebrated as Baisakhi in Punjab and Delhi, Vishu in Kerala, Pohela Boishakh in West Bengal and Bohag Bihu in Assam in the month of the calendar, i.e., Vaisakh.  This usually falls during 14th or 15th of the month of April.

In South Korea, the traditional new year is celebrated in the form of Seollal, the Korean Lunar New Year. The date to mark Seollal is not fixed and changes every year according to the Lunar calendar. This year, South Korea will celebrate Seollal on 29th January, and every year this is the time to honour traditions, family bonds, and ancestral heritage. The celebration in that sense is very similar to the various forms of new year festivities that are celebrated in India. In both our cultures, this is a time for the families to come together and celebrate the occasion with traditional customs, games and food.

Seollal is one of the most important festivals in South Korea as all Koreans are considered to ‘grow one year older’ on the day. This is tied to the traditional Korean age system, where a person’s age increases not on their birthday but at the start of the lunar new year. This is a day where everyone wishes for a prosperous year ahead. Iconic customs of Seollal include wearing ‘hanbok’ (a traditional Korean cloth), playing traditional games like ‘Yutnori’, and sharing ‘Tteokguk’ (rice cake soup).

Tteokguk, which consists of broth and white ‘tteok’ (rice cakes), symbolise purity and new beginnings. It is a traditional Korean dish served during Seollal and it holds deep cultural and symbolic significance. Eating Tteokguk on Seollal is believed to signify a fresh start to the new year. It represents cleansing oneself of negative energy and starting anew with a clean slate. Tteokguk is not just a meal but a meaningful tradition that captures the essence of Korean culture, history, and values. The essence of Seollal resonates deeply with Indian cultural values, where festivals often centre on family, gratitude, and new beginnings. This shared cultural ethos creates a natural affinity between the two nations.

Korean Cultural Centre India (KCCI), the press and culture department of the Embassy of The Republic of Korea, aims to create a cultural bridge between Korea and India, a nation hailing a proud legacy of rich culture, religion, and philosophy. The Korean Cultural Centre India plays a pivotal role in introducing and promoting Korean culture in India. Through language classes, art exhibitions, film screenings, K-pop contests, and culinary workshops, KCCI has become a vibrant hub for cultural enthusiasts in New Delhi. Its initiatives not only provide a glimpse into Korea’s rich heritage but also encourages cross-cultural dialogue.

This year, KCCI will celebrate Seollal with over 80 Korean language learning students of a secondary school in New Delhi. The aim of the event is to recreate a Seollal cultural program that replicates the experiences typically organised in Korea during the Seollal season, allowing Indian students to immerse themselves in an authentic Korean experience. The activities planned for the day include playing Yutnori, a traditional Korean board game and participating in the arm-wrestling competition. During the event, the students will be introduced to the traditional aspects of Seollal such as Sebae, which involves a traditional bow of respect to the elders in the family and wishing them a happy New Year. The students also will get to taste Tteokguk.

Further, the highlight of this year’s Seollal celebrations at the Korean Cultural Centre India is the enactment by Indian artists of a Korean folktale – Heungbu and Nolbu. The popular bedtime story for Korean children highlights the values of kindness, compassion, and the rewards of virtuous behaviour. This enactment will be an ideal way to introduce Indian students to a very popular Korean folktale.

Events like Seollal at KCCI underscore the importance of cultural diplomacy in strengthening ties between India and South Korea. They provide a platform for individuals from both nations to appreciate each other’s traditions, fostering mutual respect and understanding. Personal stories from attendees often highlight the emotional impact of such events, as participants discover commonalities and forge connections across cultures. These moments reflect the power of shared experiences in building lasting friendships.

Seollal at the Korean Cultural Centre India is more than a celebration—it is a testament to the growing bond between India and Korea. By honouring traditions and embracing cultural exchange, KCCI continues to build bridges that unite people across borders. As we celebrate Seollal, let us look forward to a future of greater understanding and friendship, rooted in shared values and mutual respect.

 

Authored by Mr. Hwang Il Yong, Director of the Korean Cultural Centre India