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– Marking the beginning of the Lunar New Year, Seollal is one of Korea’s most cherished holidays
– The highlight of the event was a New Year Wish-Making Ceremony, where over 90 students reflected on hope and new beginnings
– The event highlighted cultural parallels between Korea and India where lunar traditions hold deep meaning
The spirit of Seollal, the Korean Lunar New Year, came alive on 17 February as the Korean Cultural Centre India held a vibrant cultural gathering at its centre in New Delhi, bringing together over 90 students enrolled in its Korean language programmes for an event of tradition, reflection, and cultural exchange.
Marking the beginning of the Lunar New Year, Seollal is one of Korea’s most cherished holidays – a time for families to gather, pay respects to elders, share blessings, and look ahead with hope. This year’s celebration at KCCI focused on a meaningful and symbolic tradition: making wishes to the full moon, a practice that reflects renewal, gratitude, and aspirations for the year ahead.
The event began with an introduction to Seollal customs, including family greetings, the traditional New Year’s bow (sebae), the sharing of words of blessing (deokdam), and the significance of eating tteokguk (rice cake soup), which symbolizes gaining a year in age and welcoming a fresh start. Participants were guided through the cultural meanings behind these traditions, helping them understand how the Lunar New Year is celebrated in Korea.
The highlight of the celebration was the New Year Wish-Making Ceremony. A luminous image of the full moon was projected on a large screen, recreating the spirit of the first full moon of the lunar year — a moment traditionally associated with hope and new beginnings. Students were invited to write down their wishes for the year on special wish cards, reflecting on personal goals, gratitude, and dreams for the future.
After writing their wishes, participants placed their cards on a hanging rope. The ceremony concluded with a commemorative photo session, capturing a shared moment of optimism and cross-cultural connection.
The programme also included an interactive sebae experience, where students practiced the traditional bow and exchanged New Year’s greetings. They also celebrated the occasion by wearing Hanbok, the traditional clothing of Korean people.
Seollal resonates deeply with the spirit of many Indian festivals that mark new beginnings. Much like Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Makar Sankranti in northern India, Baisakhi in Punjab, or Onam in Kerala, Seollal is a time for families to come together, honour ancestors, prepare traditional foods and wear customary attire. Through this celebration, KCCI aimed not only to introduce Korean New Year customs but also to highlight cultural parallels between Korea and India, where lunar traditions and the symbolism of the moon hold deep meaning.
By participating in the wish-making ceremony, students experienced firsthand how Seollal is both a family-centred holiday and a time of collective hope. By blending tradition with interactive engagement, the Korean Cultural Centre India continues to foster deeper cultural understanding and people-to-people connections between Korea and India.
Hwang Il Yong, Director of Korean Cultural Center India, said, “Seollal is not only about welcoming a new year, but about reflecting on our hopes and sharing them with others. The New Year wish-making tradition reminds us that while cultures may differ, the desire for happiness, peace, and prosperity is universal. Through such experiences, we hope to deepen the cultural bond between Korea and India.”
