Buddha's Birthday
| Buddha Purnima | |
|---|---|
Buddha's Birthday celebration in Seoul, South Korea | |
| Also called | Buddha Jayanti Buddha's Birthday Vesākha बुद्ध पूर्णिमा बुद्ध पौर्णिमा ဗုဒ္ဓမွေးနေ့ বুদ্ধ পূর্ণিমা ବୁଦ୍ଧ ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣିମା Fódàn (佛誕) Phật Đản Chopa-il |
| Observed by | Buddhists in East Asia and Buddhists and some Hindus in South and Southeast Asia (as Vesak) |
| Type | Buddhist, cultural |
| Significance | Commemoration of the birth of Gautama Buddha |
| Date | varies by region:
|
| 2024 date | 15 May (China, Vietnam, the Philippines and East Asia)
23 May (Indonesia) |
| 2025 date | 5 May (China, Hong Kong, South Korea, Vietnam, the Philippines and East Asia) 11 May (Cambodia, Thailand) |
| 2026 date | 24 May (China, Vietnam, the Philippines and East Asia) 31 May (Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka) |
| Frequency | annual |
| Related to | Vesak |
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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. 623 BCE, was born at Lumbini in Nepal. 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. The Mayadevi Temple, its gardens, and an Ashoka Pillar dating from 249 BCE mark the Buddha's birthplace at Lumbini.
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, hence Sanskrit: पूर्णिमा pūrṇimā) 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). In East Asia, Vietnam and the Philippines, the enlightenment and death of the Buddha are observed as separate holidays.