Vesak

Vesākha
Vesākha
Official name	Vesākha, Buddha Purnima, Vaishaka, Vesak
Also called	Buddha's Birthday or Buddha Day
Observed by	All Buddhist sects
Type	Religious
Significance	The birth, enlightenment and passing away of Buddha
Date	Full moon of the month of Vesākha, usually in May
Observances	Meditation, Observing the eight precepts, partaking of vegetarian food, giving to charity, "bathing" the Buddha
Related to	Buddha's Birthday

Vesākha or Vesak is a holy day. It is observed traditionally by Buddhists in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, India, Nepal and the South East Asian countries of Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Burma, and Indonesia.^[1] Sometimes it is called "Buddha's Birthday". It is basically Buddha's birthday and actually includes the birth, enlightenment (nirvāna), and passing away (Parinirvāna) of Gautama Buddha.^[2]

The exact date of Vesākha varies according to the lunar calendars used in different traditions. In Theravada countries following the Buddhist calendar, it falls on a full moon Uposatha day. This is typically in the 5th or 6th lunar month. Vesākha Day in China is on the eighth of the fourth month in the Chinese lunar calendar. The date varies from year to year in the Western Gregorian calendar. It usually falls in April or May. In leap years Vesākha is celebrated in June.

Vesak Media

Queen Maya holds onto a branch of a tree while giving birth to the Buddha, who is received by Śakra as other gods look on.
Young novice monk on Vesak Day Parade
Video Korean Buddhist monks perform ritual dances and music on Buddha's Birthday.
Vesak is celebrated in Jetavana, India, 2011
Vesak Day celebration in Borobudur temple, Indonesia
People thronged to the Maha Vihara Buddhist Temple during the Wesak Day celebration in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Burmese Buddhist devotees traditionally water Bodhi trees to mark Vesak.
Burmese Buddhist devotees converge on a Bodhi tree in preparation for watering.
Lotus Lantern Festival (연등회, Yeon Deung Hoe) in Seoul, South Korea

References

↑ Fowler, Jeaneane D. (1997). World Religions: An Introduction for Students. Sussex Academic Press. ISBN 1-898723-48-6.
↑ "Visakha Puja". Accesstoinsight.org. Retrieved 20 March 2012.

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[1] Fowler, Jeaneane D. (1997). World Religions: An Introduction for Students. Sussex Academic Press. ISBN 1-898723-48-6.

[2] "Visakha Puja". Accesstoinsight.org. Retrieved 20 March 2012.

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