Celebrating the Birth, Enlightenment, and Nirvana of the Buddha
Buddha Purnima, also known as Vesak, is the most sacred day for Buddhists worldwide. It is a "Triple Blessed Day" that commemorates three momentous events in the life of Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha: his birth, his enlightenment (Nirvana), and his passing (Parinirvana).
The festival uniquely celebrates the Buddha's birth as Prince Siddhartha, his supreme enlightenment under the Bodhi tree, and his final passing into Parinirvana.
It is observed on the full moon day (Purnima) of the Vaisakha month in the Buddhist and Hindu calendars, typically falling in April or May.
The day is dedicated to the Buddha's teachings of peace, compassion, and the path to liberation from suffering for all sentient beings.
Born as a prince in Lumbini (modern-day Nepal) around the 5th century BCE, Siddhartha lived a sheltered life of luxury. However, he became deeply troubled after witnessing the realities of human suffering: old age, sickness, and death.
The Path to Enlightenment
At the age of 29, he renounced his royal life to seek the ultimate truth and an end to suffering. After years of extreme asceticism, he realized that the path lay in the "Middle Way," avoiding extremes of indulgence and self-mortification. Seating himself under a Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya, he meditated deeply and, on a full moon night in Vaisakha, he attained supreme enlightenment, understanding the nature of reality and the cause of suffering. From then on, he was known as the Buddha, "the awakened one," and spent the rest of his life teaching the path (Dharma) to others.
The core of the Buddha's teachings is encapsulated in the Four Noble Truths, which diagnose the human condition and prescribe the path to liberation.
Life inherently involves suffering, dissatisfaction, and stress. Birth, aging, sickness, and death are all forms of suffering.
The cause of suffering is craving, attachment, and aversion—our desires for things to be different than they are.
It is possible to end suffering by eliminating craving, attachment, and ignorance.
The way to end suffering is to follow the Noble Eightfold Path, which includes right understanding, right thought, right speech, and right action.
Buddha Purnima is celebrated with peaceful and devotional activities that reflect the core values of the Buddha's teachings.
Devotees visit temples to listen to sermons, chant scriptures, and offer flowers, candles, and incense.
Following the principle of compassion, many people engage in charity, give alms to the poor, and free caged birds as a symbol of liberation.
Devotees pour water on the roots of Bodhi trees, honoring the place of the Buddha's enlightenment.
Many lay followers observe the Eight Precepts for the day, which includes practicing vegetarianism and abstaining from worldly pleasures.
The food associated with Buddha Purnima is simple, vegetarian, and sattvic, reflecting the principles of non-violence and mindfulness. The most common dish is Kheer, a sweet rice pudding.