Buddha's Birthday

Buddha Purnima
Buddha's Birthday celebration in Seoul, South Korea
Also calledBuddha Jayanti
Buddha's Birthday
Vesākha
बुद्ध पूर्णिमा
बुद्ध पौर्णिमा
ဗုဒ္ဓမွေးနေ့
বুদ্ধ পূর্ণিমা
ବୁଦ୍ଧ ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣିମା
Fódàn (佛誕)
Phật Đản
Chopa-il
Observed byBuddhists in East Asia and Buddhists and some Hindus in South and Southeast Asia (as Vesak)
TypeBuddhist, cultural
SignificanceCommemoration of the birth of Gautama Buddha
Datevaries by region:
  • April 8 (Japan)
  • Second Sunday in May (Taiwan)
  • 8th day of the 4th lunar month (mainland China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, the Philippines and East Asia)
  • first full moon of Vaisakha (South Asia and Southeast Asia)
2023 date26 May (China, Vietnam, the Philippines and East Asia)
  • 3 May (Myanmar)[1]
  • 4 May (Malaysia)[2]
  • 5 May (Sri Lanka)[3][4]
  • 2 June (Singapore)[5]
  • 3 June (Thailand)[6]
  • 4 June (Indonesia)[7]
2024 date15 May (China, Hong Kong, South Korea, Vietnam, the Philippines and East Asia)
15 May (Bangladesh)
23 May (India, Nepal)[8]
26 May (Tibet, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia)
2025 date5 May (China, Vietnam, the Philippines and East Asia)
Frequencyannual
Related toVesak

Buddha's Birthday or Buddha Day (also known as Buddha Jayanti, Buddha Purnima, and Buddha Pournami) is a primarily Buddhist festival that is celebrated in most of South, Southeast and East Asia, commemorating the birth of the prince Siddhartha Gautama, who became the Gautama Buddha and founded Buddhism. According to Buddhist tradition and archaeologists, Gautama Buddha, c. 563-483 BCE, was born at Lumbini in Nepal.[12] Buddha's mother was Queen Maya Devi, who delivered the Buddha while undertaking a journey to her native home, and his father was King Śuddhodana.[13] The Mayadevi Temple, its gardens, and an Ashoka Pillar dating from 249 BCE mark the Buddha's birthplace at Lumbini.[14]

The exact year of Buddha's birthday is based on the Sri Lankan convention, while several Asian lunisolar calendars ascribe to different lunar days. The date for the celebration of Buddha's birthday therefore varies from year to year in the Western Gregorian calendar, but it is usually celebrated in either April or May. During leap years, the birthday may be celebrated in June.

In South and Southeast Asia, the Buddha's birth is celebrated as part of Vesak, a festival that also celebrates the Buddha's enlightenment (on the day of the full moon) and his mahaparinirvana. In Tibetan Buddhism, Buddha's birth (7th day of the 4th Month) is celebrated separately from Saga Dawa Duchen, the annual festival celebrating his enlightenment and mahaparinirvana (15th Day of the 4th Month).[15] In East Asia, Vietnam and the Philippines, the enlightenment and death of the Buddha are observed as separate holidays.

  1. ^ "Myanmar regime pardons political detainees charged for incitement on Vesak Day". Myanmar Now. 3 May 2023. Archived from the original on 3 May 2023.
  2. ^ a b c "Wesak Day 2024, 2025 and 2026". PublicHolidays.com.my. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  3. ^ a b c "Vesak Day 2024, 2025 and 2026". PublicHolidays.lk. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  4. ^ "Vesak Day". United Nations. Archived from the original on 17 March 2023.
  5. ^ "Vesak Day revised to fall on June 2 next year; Singapore to have 7 long weekends in 2023". The Straits Times. 29 September 2022. Archived from the original on 27 April 2023.
  6. ^ "Thai holidays in 2023". The Thaiger. 31 December 2022. Archived from the original on 31 December 2022.
  7. ^ a b c "Waisak Day 2024, 2025 and 2026". PublicHolidays.co.id. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  8. ^ "Buddha Purnima - May 26, 2021". 26 May 2021.
  9. ^ a b "Full Moon Day of Kasong 2024, 2025 and 2026 in Myanmar". PublicHolidays.asia. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  10. ^ a b "Vesak Day 2024, 2025 and 2026". PublicHolidays.sg. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  11. ^ a b "Visakha Bucha Day 2024, 2025 and 2026 in Thailand". PublicHolidays.asia. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  12. ^ Centre, UNESCO World Heritage. "Lumbini, the Birthplace of the Lord Buddha". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved 26 May 2021.Gopinath Mohapatra (4 October 2012). "Two Birth Plates of Buddha" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 October 2012. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  13. ^ "Buddha Purnima 2023: Date, Timings, Story, Teachings and Significance". The Times of India. 5 May 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  14. ^ "Buddha's birthday in his birthplace". nepalitimes.com. 22 May 2021. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  15. ^ "Rigpa Tibetan Calendar 2023-2024, Water Rabbit Year 2150", p.54,56. Terton Sogyal Trust : Zam, 2022.