Buddha Jayanti or Buddha's Birthday is a Buddhist festival commemorating the birth of Prince Siddhartha Gautama, later the Gautama Buddha, the father of Buddhism, in much of East Asia and South Asia. According to Buddhist history and contemporary scholarly consensus, Gautama Buddha was born c. 563–483 BCE in Lumbini (now Nepal) and raised in the Shakya capital of Kapilavastu.
The Asian lunisolar calendars determine the precise date of Buddha's birth. The Western Gregorian calendar's date for Buddha's birthday varies from year to year, but it occurs typically in April or May. It may be held in June on leap years.
The Buddha's birth is commemorated in South and Southeast Asia as part of Vesak, a festival that marks the Buddha's awakening and death. The Buddha's birth and death are celebrated as separate holidays in East Asia.
When is Buddha Jayanti celebrated?
Asian lunisolar calendars determine the precise date of Buddha's birthday, and it is usually observed in the Buddhist month of Baisakh and the Hindu month of Bikram Sambat. This is why the name Vesak was coined.
Serene presence of Buddha's timeless wisdom
It is commemorated on the full moon day of the Buddhist calendar's Vaisakha month in modern-day India and Nepal, where the enlightened Buddha lived. It occurs on the full moon, Uposatha day, in the 5th or 6th lunar month in Theravada countries that observe the Buddhist calendar.
Buddha Jayanti is celebrated on the 8th day of the 4th month in the Chinese lunar calendar in China and Korea. The Western Gregorian calendar's date varies from year to year, but it usually occurs in April or May. It may be held in June on leap years. It appears on the seventh day of the Tibetan calendar's fourth month in Tibet.
Where was Gautam Buddha born?
In Nepal's western Terai plains, Lumbini is the birthplace of Prince Siddhartha (also known as the Buddha). The newly-born Prince is said to have taken seven steps and sent humankind a timeless note. This is thought to have occurred in the lovely Sal grove, which now serves as the focal point of the Lumbini Garden district.
Birthday of Gautam Buddha
Maya Devi, the Queen of Shakya King Suddhodhana of Kapilvastu, gave birth to Prince Siddhartha on "Vaishakha Poornima" (full-moon day of May) in 623 BC while going through the Lumbini Garden, according to popular belief.
Birthplace of peace: Sacred Lumbini echoes tranquility
Before giving birth to the minor child who would later become the Buddha, the Queen is said to have taken a bath in Pushkarini (the Sacred Pond) and taken help from a tree branch in preparation for the arrival.
How is Buddha Jayanti celebrated in Nepal?
Buddha's birthday is commemorated in Nepal on the full moon day of May. Buddha Jayanti, Vaishakh Purnima, Buddha Purnima, Saga Dawa, and Vesak are some of the names given to the festival. In Sanskrit, Purnima refers to the full moon day.
It is vital to the Nepalese Newars, especially the Shakya clan of Newars, since they regard it as a continuation of the hermit/sage of the kyas, the clan to which Lord Buddha's family belongs. As a result, they commemorate
ate the holiday known in their language as Swanya Punhi, or Flower Full Moon Day.
The day commemorates Shakyamuni Gautama Buddha's birth, as well as his enlightenment and Mahaparinirvana.
The occasion is marked by a gentle and serene hunger, in line with Buddhism's very essence. People, especially women, visit popular Viharas to observe a full-length Buddhist sutra similar to a service.
The standard attire is all-white. In most cases, non-vegetarian eating is prohibited. Kheer, a sweet rice porridge, is usually eaten to commemorate Sujata, a maiden who presented the Buddha with a bowl of milk porridge.
Spiritual devotion: Monk finds solace in heartfelt prayer
For Buddhists, Buddha Jayanti/Buddha Purnima is the most important day since it is believed that three major life-changing events occurred in Siddharta Gautam's life occurred on this day: his birth, his enlightenment, and death(Paranirvana). This auspicious day is better known as Thrice Blessed Festival.
On Buddha Jayanti, devotees flock to Lumbini, Tilaurakot, or Kapilvastu, where Buddha spent his first 29 years, Devdaha, his maternal home, and other holy sites and monasteries in Kathmandu and Nepal.
Buddhists of all faiths and pilgrims from all over the world worship the Buddha at the two great stupas Swyambhunath and Boudhanath, as well as the predominantly Buddhist city of Patan in the Kathmandu valley. Activities at the major Buddhist stupas and shrines start early in the morning and last until late at night.
