Buddhist festival marking the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha
This article is about a Buddhist festival. For the Hindu and Sikh new year festival, see
Vaisakhi . For the disciple of Buddha, see
Visakha .
Vesak Official name Vesak, Vesākha, Buddha Jayanti, Buddha Purnima, Vaishakh Purnima, Saka Dawa Also called Buddha's Birthday or Buddha DayObserved 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 BuddhaDate Full moon of the lunar month of Vesākha, usually in April, May or June. 2024 date
22 May (Cambodia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Sri Lanka)[ 1] [ 2] [ 3] [ 4]
23 May (Indonesia)[ 5]
2025 date
11 May (Cambodia, Thailand)[ 6]
12 May (Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Indonesia, Sri Lanka)[ 2] [ 7] [ 1] [ 5] [ 4]
2026 date
31 May (Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka)[ 7] [ 6] [ 5] [ 2] [ 1] [ 4]
2027 date 20 May (Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka)
[ 7] [ 6] [ 5] [ 2] [ 1] [ 4]
Frequency Annual Related to Buddha's Birthday Other related festivals Laba Festival (in China) Rohatsu (in Japan)
Vesak (Pali : Vesākha ; Sanskrit : vaiśākha ), also known as Buddha Jayanti ,[ 8] Buddha Purnima ,[ 9] 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 .[ 10] 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 .[ 11]
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.[ 12] 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 .[ 13] [ 14] [ 15] [ 16]
^ a b c d "Vesak Day 2024, 2025 and 2026" . PublicHolidays . Archived from the original on 25 February 2024. Retrieved 13 April 2024 .
^ a b c d "Wesak Day 2024, 2025 and 2026" . PublicHolidays . Archived from the original on 13 May 2020. Retrieved 13 April 2024 .
^ Cite error: The named reference PublicHolidaysTH
was invoked but never defined (see the help page ).
^ a b c d "Vesak Day 2024, 2025 and 2026" . PublicHolidays . Archived from the original on 30 April 2021. Retrieved 13 April 2024 .
^ a b c d "Waisak Day 2024, 2025 and 2026" . PublicHolidays . Archived from the original on 3 February 2023. Retrieved 13 April 2024 .
^ a b c "Visakha Bucha Day 2024, 2025 and 2026 in Thailand" . PublicHolidays . Retrieved 13 April 2024 .
^ a b c "Full Moon Day of Kasong 2024, 2025 and 2026 in Myanmar" . PublicHolidays . Archived from the original on 29 May 2024. Retrieved 13 April 2024 .
^ "BBC on Buddhism" . BBC Religion . BBC . Archived from the original on 3 February 2020. Retrieved 21 November 2018 .
^ "Making History: Vesak Celebrated at the White House with Candle Offerings" . 27 May 2021.
^ Fowler, Jeaneane D. (1997). World Religions: it is celebrated to mark the birth, enlightenment and the passing away of the Lord Buddha. An Introduction for Students . Sussex Academic Press . ISBN 1-898723-48-6 .
^ "Visakha Puja" . Archived from the original on 4 March 2012. Retrieved 20 March 2012 .
^ "Buddha Purnima 2021: Date, history, significance of Buddha Jayanti" . 26 May 2021. Archived from the original on 5 June 2023. Retrieved 26 July 2021 .
^ "The Origins and Practices of Holidays: Vesak" . 18 May 2019.[permanent dead link ]
^ "Buddha Purnima 2021: Why is Buddha Birth anniversary celebrated? Date, significance and importance of the day" . 26 May 2021. Archived from the original on 7 April 2023. Retrieved 25 July 2021 .
^ "Vesak Festival" . 7 May 2020. Archived from the original on 19 August 2016.
^ "BUDDHA JAYANTI" . 6 May 2020. Archived from the original on 24 January 2021. Retrieved 25 July 2021 .