Rainy weather didn’t keep people from celebrating Buddha’s Birthday on Tuesday.

Temples nationwide held various services in honor of the day. Buddhist believers laid lotus flowers symbolizing pure truth in front of statues of Buddha while ruminating over teachings about mercy and spiritual emancipation.

One service was themed on the values of sharing and practicing discipline. The Supreme Patriarch of the Korean Order of Jogye Buddhism, the Most Venerable Beopjeon, called on the people to thoroughly reflect on themselves and to care for neighbors.

A large number of marginalized members of society, including foreign migrant workers and multicultural families, were invited to the service. Leaders of Protestant, Catholic and Islamic groups were also invited to highlight religious harmony.