This weekend, Szeged’s Botanical Garden becomes a vibrant hub of colour, fragrance, and culture as it hosts the annual Lotus Days festival. The event is centred around the blooming of Central Europe’s largest colony of Indian lotus (Nelumbo nucifera), set within the serene Japanese garden pond of the University of Szeged’s arboretum.
The nearly century-old lotus plants were first brought to Szeged in 1932 from the pond of the Návay estate in Óföldeák-Gencshát, just a few years after the garden’s founding. Today, the garden boasts a breathtaking display of deep pink lotus flowers rising majestically above the water, accompanied by the plant’s iconic seed pods, often compared to showerheads.
Visitors can admire the lotus pond from the small island tea house, which offers a tranquil spot to soak in the sights. Guided lotus walks will be held seven times each day, beginning at the Buddha statue, where garden staff will share insights into the lotus and other Asian flora.
According to legend, the lotus is the life-giving flower of the Buddha, originally native to southern and southeastern Asia. It later spread across tropical regions with the growth of Buddhism, reaching as far as northeastern Australia. Today, it is cultivated extensively for food, medicine, and ornamentation. Every part of the plant is used, from flowers adorning temples to stems and roots consumed fresh, cooked, or dried.
‘According to legend, the lotus is the life-giving flower of the Buddha, originally native to southern and southeastern Asia’
Beyond the botanical wonder, the festival offers a full immersion into Far Eastern traditions. Dance and music performances, craft demonstrations, and exhibitions await visitors throughout the weekend. A bonsai exhibition features both authentic Japanese specimens and native Hungarian trees shaped in the traditional style. In the rose garden, the Hungarian Origami Circle will demonstrate the intricate art of Japanese paper folding, allowing guests to try it for themselves.
Numerous yoga instructors from Szeged’s studios will lead open-air sessions under the garden’s trees, while martial artists showcase various disciplines from across Asia. Culinary experiences round out the cultural immersion, with pop-up restaurants serving authentic Asian flavours, adding aroma and taste to the sights and sounds of this unique celebration.
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