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Vesak

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Vesak

Vesak (Pali: Vesākha; Sanskrit: vaiśākha), also known as Buddha Jayanti, Buddha Purnima, Visak Bochea and Buddha Day, is a holiday traditionally observed by Buddhists in South Asia and Southeast Asia, as well as in Tibet and Mongolia. It is among the most important Buddhist festivals. The festival commemorates the birth, enlightenment (Pali: Nibbāna, Sanskrit: Nirvāṇa), and death (Parinirvāna) of Gautama Buddha in Theravada, Tibetan Buddhism, and Navayana. The name Vesak is derived from the Pali term vesākha or Sanskrit vaiśākha for the lunar month of Vaisakha, which is considered the month of Buddha's birth. In Mahayana Buddhist traditions, the holiday is known by its Sanskrit name (Vaiśākha) and derived variants of it. In the East Asian tradition, a celebration of Buddha's Birthday typically occurs around the traditional timing of Vesak, while the Buddha's awakening and death are celebrated as separate holidays that occur at other times in the calendar as Bodhi Day and Nibbāna Day. In the South Asian tradition, where Vesak is celebrated on the full moon day of the Vaisakha month, the Vesak day marks the birth, enlightenment, and the ultimate death of the Buddha.

Infobox

Official name
Vesak, Vesākha, Buddha Jayanti, Buddha Purnima, Vaishakh Purnima, Saka Dawa
Also called
Buddha's Birthday or Buddha Day
Observed by
Buddhist, Jains and Hindus
Type
Buddhist
Significance
Commemoration of the birth, enlightenment and death of The Buddha
Observances
Meditation, observing, and some Eight Precepts, partaking of vegetarian food, giving to charity, "bathing" the Buddha
Date
Full moon of the lunar month of Vesākha, usually in April, May or June.
2024 date
mw- 22 May (Cambodia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Sri Lanka) 23 May (Indonesia)
2025 date
11 May (Burma, Cambodia, Thailand) 12 May (Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Sri Lanka)
2026 date
30 April (Burma) 1 May (India, Sri Lanka) 31 May (Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore)
2027 date
20 May (Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka)
Frequency
Annual
Related to
Buddha's Birthday Other related festivalsLaba Festival (in China)Rohatsu (in Japan)

Tables

· Celebration › Dates of observance
2021
2021
Year(CE)
2021
Singapore
26 May
Sri Lanka
26 May 2565
Indonesia
26 May 2565
Nepal, Bangladesh &India
26 May
Malaysia
19 May
Vietnam
26 May
Year(CE)
Thailand
Singapore
Laos
Myanmar
Sri Lanka
Cambodia
Indonesia
Nepal, Bangladesh &India
China, Korea, & the Philippines
Japan
Malaysia
Vietnam
Bhutan
2021
26 May
26 May 2565
26 May 2565
26 May
19 May
26 May

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