Buddha Purnima 2024: A festival that commemorates birth, enlightenment, parinirvana of Gautama Buddha
Buddha Purnima 2024: The auspicious festival of Buddha Purnima commemorates the birth of Prince Siddhartha Gautama, who became the Gautama Buddha and founded Buddhism. The religious holiday is often referred to as Buddha's birthday, Buddha Day, or Buddha Jayanti.
Buddha Purnima, also known as Vesak, is extremely important to Buddhists worldwide. It is a day set aside to commemorate Gautama Buddha's birth, enlightenment, and Parinirvana. While his exact birth date is uncertain, Buddha Purnima is celebrated on the full moon day of the Vaisakha month in the Hindu lunar calendar.
The Buddhist festival is observed in the majority of South, Southeast, and East Asia, including India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet, Thailand, Tibet, China, Korea, Laos, Vietnam, Mongolia, Cambodia, and Indonesia.
Buddhists mark the day with immense devotion and excitement, participating in a variety of religious ceremonies and rituals. Here's all about the festival's date, history, significance, and other details
Buddha Purnima 2024: Date and Timings
This year, Buddha Jayanti is on May 23. This year marks Gautam Buddha's 2586th birth anniversary.
Timings:
Purnima Tithi begins at 6:47 pm on May 22, 2024.
Purnima Tithi concludes at 7:22 p.m. on May 23, 2024.
Buddha Purnima 2024: History and Importance:
While the exact dates of Buddha's birth and death are unclear, historians generally estimate his lifespan to be between 563 and 483 BC. Born in Lumbini, Nepal, Gautam Buddha attained Nirvana at the age of 35. Buddha Purnima is celebrated as a day to reflect on Buddhism's key principles of peace, compassion, and enlightenment.
In various parts of South and Southeast Asia, the festival coincides with Vesak, which commemorates Buddha's enlightenment and passing into Nirvana. The festival provides an opportunity to share the message of peace and harmony.
- With inputs from agencies
