On Monday, Buddha´s Birthday, temples nationwide celebrated the national holiday with memorial services.

In a ceremony at the nation's largest Jogye Order in Seoul, its executive chief, the Venerable Jigwan, said in a speech that as Buddha could not have been born without the people, all living things could not have entered the world without mutual reliance.

The head priest called for mercy and generosity saying that to respect and not abandon one another is the key to loving mankind which is Buddha's gift to the people.

This year's holiday marks Buddha's 2,552nd birthday.