Buddha Purnima / Vesak : A Celebration of Love and Compassion

Buddha Purnima or Buddha Jayanti is the most sacred day in the Buddhist calendar. Buddha Jayanti, also known as Vesak, is a significant festival celebrated by Buddhists worldwide. This thrice blessed day, celebrated on the Full Moon Day of May (Vaisakh), commemorates the important events in the life of Lord Buddha, including His birth in Lumbini, His enlightenment in Buddhagaya, and His entry into Mahaparinirvana in Kusinagar.
In 1999, the United Nations General Assembly recognized the Day of Vesak as an international acknowledgement of the contribution Buddhism, one of the world's oldest religions, has made to spirituality for over two and a half millennia, and continues to make to humanity. This day is celebrated annually at the UN Headquarters and other UN offices in consultation with relevant UN offices and permanent missions.
The dates for Buddha Jayanti vary according to the lunar calendars used in different traditions. In countries that follow the Theravada tradition and Buddhist calendar, it falls on the full moon day of Vaisakh or May, typically on the 5th or 6th lunar month. However, the date varies each year in the western Gregorian calendar, but it usually falls in April or May. In China, Vesak is celebrated in the 4th month of the Chinese lunar calendar, coinciding with the first full moon of the month. The word Vesak, which is also known as Vesakha in Pali, is derived from the Sinhalese language. Happy Buddha Purnima!

Buddha Purnima or Vesak is on Thursday, 23rd May, 2024