Buddha Day 2024 is on Monday, May 6, 2024: where do the indians celebrate buddha day?

Monday, May 6, 2024 is Buddha Day 2024.

Sponsored Deals

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Buddha Day is additionally called Vesak Day, or Teacher's Day. Buddhists celebrate today as the Buddha's (Shakyamuni) Birthday. It is considered by most to be the most vital day in Buddhism and most Buddhists invest the day in contemplation of the Buddha's life and knowledge. Parties outside the holy places usually entail ceremonial bird launches and some regional traditions or society into the events.

Occasions at the holy places commonly entail visitor presenters as well as chanting and hoping and providings to the Buddha statue (generally herbivorous in line with Buddhist ideas) in regard for his life and teachings.

There are numerous regional variants in the days whereupon Buddha Day is observed (varying in the Gregorian calendar in between April and May)-- for simpleness we have concentrated on the most generally well known day in all eastern Asian countries (omitting Japan), which takes place on the 8th day of the Fourth month in the Chinese lunar calendar.

Wesak or Vesak, also known as Buddha Day, celebrates the Buddha’s birthday, enlightenment and death. It is the most important day in the Buddhist calendar. In Japanese Buddhism, 8th April marks the birth of the Buddha, 8th December his enlightenment and 15th February his death.

what are the do's and don'ts during wesak day?

Wesak (Buddha Day) - First Full Moon in May - around 20th May 2008

Wesak or Vesak, also known as Buddha Day, celebrates the Buddha’s birthday, enlightenment and death. It is the most important day in the Buddhist calendar. In Japanese Buddhism, 8th April marks the birth of the Buddha, 8th December his enlightenment and 15th February his death.

During Wesak, Buddhists celebrate the life of the Buddha and his teachings. They remember the night of his enlightenment and his insights into his previous lives, as well as his revelations about the nature of death, karma and rebirth, suffering and desire.

Wesak is celebrated with great joy and vivid colours. Homes are cleaned and decorated in preparation. Celebrations begin before dawn, when devotees throng the temples early in the morning to meditate and take the Five Precepts. Sutras are chanted by monks.

Celebrations vary from one country to another. ‘The Bathing of the Buddha’ often takes place. Water is poured over the shoulders of statues of the Buddha as a reminder of the need to purify the heart and mind. Offerings are made to the monks and the temples, and may be laid on the altar as a sign of respect for the Buddha and his teachings.

In China, traditional elements from Chinese culture, such as dancing dragons, are incorporated into celebrations. In Indonesia, Wesak lanterns are made from paper and wood. Another popular custom in some countries is the release of caged birds, symbolising letting go of troubles and wishing that all beings be well and happy. Buddhists in some parts of the world make origami paper cranes which are used as decorations or sometimes floated down rivers to symbolise the same thing.

Many Buddhist temples serve vegetarian food (as many Buddhists avoid eating meat). Special lectures on the teachings of the Buddha are given, and candle lit processions take place through the streets. Observers are made welcome, both in processions and at temples.

Wesak - Questions answered

Are presents given on Wesak?

Giving to others is an important part of Buddhist tradition. Gifts may be exchanged as part of the festivities on Wesak. There is also emphasis on giving to the needy. Devotees may visit orphanages, welfare homes, homes for the aged or charitable institutions, distributing cash donations and gifts. Some youth organisations organise mass blood donation to hospitals. Donations are also made to monks and nuns.

What are the Five Precepts and how do they influence Buddhist celebrations?

All Buddhists live by the Five Moral Precepts which are refraining from:

harming living things

taking what is not given

sexual misconduct

lying or gossip

taking intoxicating substances e.g. drugs or drink

Samaneras live by ten precepts, while Buddhist monks actually keep 227 rules of the order. The ten precepts are the five precepts plus refraining from the following:

taking substantial food after midday (from noon to dawn)

dancing, singing and music

use of garlands, perfumes and personal adornment like jewelery

use of luxurious beds and seats

accepting and holding money, gold or silver

Therefore on celebration days, Buddhists will often eat vegetarian food and will not drink alcohol. Gifts will be simple, especially those given to monks. Monks in particular will not dress up, and people will not eat to excess. However, Buddhist celebrations are also very joyful, colourful occasions.

Why is Wesak celebrated on different days and why does it have different names?

Buddhists, apart from the Japanese, use the lunar calendar to define when dates of festivals should take place. Dates when there is a full moon are used often.

Why is Buddha Day celebrated on the full moon day in May?

The answer is simple- the Buddha was said to have been born on a full moon in May.

The decision to agree to celebrate Vesākha as the Buddha’s birthday was formalized at the first Conference of the World Fellowship of Buddhists held in Sri Lanka in 1950, although festivals at this time in the Buddhist world are a centuries-old tradition. The Resolution that was adopted at the World Conference reads as follows:

That this Conference of the World Fellowship of Buddhists, while recording its appreciation of the gracious act of His Majesty, the Maharaja of Nepal in making the full-moon day of Vesak a Public Holiday in Nepal, earnestly requests the Heads of Governments of all countries in which large or small number of Buddhists are to be found, to take steps to make the full-moon day in the month of May a Public Holiday in honour of the Buddha, who is universally acclaimed as one of the greatest benefactors of Humanity. ”

On Vesākha Day, Buddhists all over the world commemorate events of significance to Buddhists of all traditions: The birth, enlightenment and the passing away of Gautama Buddha. As Buddhism spread from India it was assimilated into many foreign cultures, and consequently Vesākha is celebrated in many different ways all over the world.

Namaste.