Buddha Jayanti in Nepal, Its Date and Celebration

Nepal is the country of the great Himalayas trails and land where Gautam Buddha was born. Every festival in Nepal is celebrated with colossal pride and excitement. All the festivals have equal importance in Nepal, no matter its religion. Buddha Jayanti is one of many such festivals.

Buddha Jayanti in Nepal celebrates the unlimited knowledge that lord buddha has provided. On the day of Buddha, the Jayanti people also memorize the life of lord buddha, his deeds of enlightenment, and his death. People refer to the death of lord Buddha as Mahaparinirana.

Lord Buddha was born in the western Terai plans of Nepal. He was born into the family of King Suddhodhana and Queen Maya Devi. While pregnant with Gautam Buddha, She also loved to walk around the garden, so she got into labor while roaming.

She gave birth to them in the garden, taking the support of branches of the trees. Buddha was born on the night of Purnima (full moon day) in 682 B.C. He was given every privilege in his life as the king’s son. But he strongly believes in taking some steps and educating people about humanity’s importance.

Lumbini is the place where lord buddha took birth. It falls on the Kapil Vastu of western Terai Nepal. After his birth, Buddha spent his first 29 years in Devdaha. Devdaha was his maternal home; during his stay there, he got the chance to visit many sacred places and monasteries around the country.

Two great stupas, Shyambhunath and Baudhanatha, are also established in honor of lord buddha. These stupas are also enlisted in the World Heritage site by UNESCO.

Traditions of Buddha Purnima

Buddha Purnima is the most significant festival for all the Nepalese people. Gautam Buddha founded Buddhism around 3000 years ago. There have been various controversies about the exact day when Buddha was born or died; however, according to the Buddhist tradition, it is also said that he was born on April 8 and died on February 15, around 949 BC. Gautam Buddha was one of the Shakya who had a small clan. The kingdom was situated at the foothills of the Himalayas and is now the south of central Nepal.

Traditionally, on Buddha Purnima, people dressed differently, mostly wearing white. They also make a rice pudding, which they call Kheer. Kheer is made on the occasion of Buddha Purnima to remember the legendary story where a woman named Sujata once offered Gautam Buddha Kheer on his birthday. So, since then, providing KKheer to the monasteries has been a tradition. Dharma chakra is another crucial thing to remember about Buddha Purnima.

It is said that the dharma wheel is taken as the symbol seen during Vesak. The wheel is mainly made up of a wooden wheel with eight spokes. The dharma wheel is essential for Buddhists as it represents the teaching of lord buddha towards the path of enlightenment. Those eight spokes on the wheel represent this noble eightfold path of Buddhism.

When is Buddha Purnima?

Buddha Purnima is the most sacred and awaited day of the year. This festival is celebrated not only by Buddhists but also by people worldwide. This is the day when people celebrate and ensure humanity among themselves. People enjoy this festival with great enthusiasm and Delight. The exact date of Buddha Purnima falls on the fourth month in the Chinese lunar calendar. Although the date varies yearly, this day typically falls on the Jestha month of the Hindu calendar, around May on the English calendar.

Although people of all religions celebrate Buddha Jayanti nowadays, only Buddhist followers have been celebrating this festival. Since the conference of Buddhists held in South Lanka in 1950, it has been official that people of all religions could enjoy Buddha Purnima. Followers of Buddhism take every full moon as sacred. This particular full moon on Jestha has separate significance as lord buddha was born on this day.

Buddha Purnima 2024 date

Buddha Purnima, commonly called Buddha Jayanti, is the most auspicious day for Buddhists. This day celebrates the birth anniversary of Gautam Buddha, the founder of Buddhism. On this day, lord buddha found the alignment and drew the path to humanity. Many countries, including Nepal and India, also provide a national holiday for Buddha Purnima.

Buddha Purnima’s date varies yearly, So 2024 Buddha Jayanti falls on Thursday, May 23. Every year, the full moon day in the month of the Hindu calendar is the birth anniversary of lord buddha. Interestingly, on the date of his birthday, lord buddha served enlightenment and left his body to achieve Mahaparinirana, which is said to be his ultimate salvation.

How is this festival celebrated in Nepal?

Being the hometown of lord buddha there, buddha Purnima has special significance in Nepal. It would help if you visited Lumbini, as the entire place is decorated with lights and flowers. Thousands of people visit Lumbini every year on the day of Buddha Jayanti. The beautiful Maha Maya Mandir, made in memory of Queen Maya Devi, will be reopened. This Temple was about 300 years old and is the oldest built with an ancient structure.

However, this temple was destroyed by the earthquake. Different forms of celebrating are done for honoring lord Buddha. Compassion and wisdom are the great messages that Buddha had given. An organization known as the Buddha Jayanti Committee was established in 2003 to celebrate Buddha Jayanti with proper rituals. This organization also takes care of the Buddhist culture, their ideas, and Buddha’s life. Along with that, here are some social works that are done in memory of lord buddha: –

• Social media, radio, and T.V. channels organize different talk shows about Buddhism. T.V. channels run a separate program featuring Buddhist teachers. They discuss the abbot ceremony in Buddhism. People remember the Buddhist philosophy on the day of Buddha Jayanti.
• Different organizations hold a nationwide quiz regarding Buddha for school children. These types of social events help people to understand the life of Buddha and Buddhist arts and cultures.
• Every year, on the occasion of Buddha Jayanti, a blood donation Campaign is held at monasteries, including Swayambunath and Boudhanath.
• Social organizations collaborate with medical groups to organize free health campaigns elsewhere.
• Food and clothes distribution programs are held to help poor and helpless people.
• Social awareness rallies are also conducted on the special occasion of Buddha Purnima.

Happy Buddha Jayanti

Buddha Purnima is sacred and one of the most important days for all the Nepalese. Many programs were organized throughout the country on the day of Buddha Jayanti. Today, people offer different things to the Bodhi tree planted in Bihar. Following the knowledge given by lord buddha, people help poor and needy people by providing them with food and clothes. On this day, people visit buddhis monasteries and stupas.

There is the oldest monastery in the Khumbu region in Nepal, where the most fantastic celebration of this festival is held. Buddhist monks read their traditional book based on lord buddha’s life story. Many people also pledge to live their life of non-violence and harmony. This year, 2021, as the entire world is suffering from the coronavirus pandemic, learning Buddha Jayanti might not be limited to your home due to the restrictions.

Buddha Purnima Significance

During the entire month of Buddha Purnima, Buddhist people eat non-vegetarian food. They make different types of food to offer in stupas in Buddha Jayanti. They also wear white clothes and conduct charity events. People feed animals and homeless people on the day of Buddha Purnima. The different organizations held rallies against social problems, remembering the lessons of lord buddha. People do yoga, offer water to the plants, and meditate.

Buddha Purnima has a different significance. Mainly, Buddhist people gather around the monasteries and stupas to offer prayers, meditate, and chant Buddhist songs. There is the tradition of keeping fast and helping others on the occasion of Buddha Purnima to cherish his knowledge. Besides the Buddhist people, Hindu people also perform rituals on Buddha Jayanti. Hindu people believe that taking a holy bath at the Ganga River will keep away all the sins from their lives.

Buddhism

There have been various disputes about the origin of  Buddhism. However, many people believe that Buddhism was established in Nepal. Buddha went to many countries, including India, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka, so Buddhism significantly impacted these countries. Lord Buddha is now said to be the time of revival and rejuvenation of mystical and regional thoughts. Buddha establishes the system of philosophical, spiritual, and social importance in life.

The life of Siddhartha is often referring as the elimination of suffering. Lord Buddha created the path all humans can follow to become free from suffering. Buddhism is based on “the Nobel eightfold path” or the “middle way path” formed by lord buddha.

Gautam Buddha sacrificed his life to teach people to understand the true meaning of life. He told the world that the cycle of birth and rebirth depends on Karma. Gautam Buddha was a great personality who guided people to religion and spirituality. He inspired people to help each other in need and maintain peace among people.

People remember the four Nobel paths drawn by lord buddha in Buddha Jayanti. Gautam Buddha taught people the importance of good works rather than other things. He left all the privileges as the king to make the world a better place. Lord Buddha is also important for Hindu people because he is taken as the ninth form of lord Vishnu.

What is the eightfold path set by lord buddha?

We all know how lord buddha spends his entire life teaching people to respect each other and have humanity among all plants and animals. Although Buddha came from a privileged life, he sacrificed his life for the entire world’s welfare.

• Right Speech (Samma vaca)

Right to speech means avoiding or not lying, backbiting, and slander. Or you are saying anything that may cause negativity among people, resulting in conflict, enmity, hatred, and disunity. You should also always speak well about people and spread positivity among them.

• Right action (Samma kammanta)

This path created by lord buddha focuses on promoting morality and peace in society. People in today’s generation have been destroying other’s lives, stealing, and being dishonest. People are losing an honorable life, so Buddha teaches people to create peace to live a meaningful life.

• Right livelihood (Samma ajiva)

right to live means that we should live by not harming other beings. One should not believe in evil works such as trading arms or weapons, drinking alcohol, or killing animals. According to lord buddha, you should not give pain to other living beings to fulfill our needs. We should respect every living being on this planet.

• Right effort (Samma Vayama)

Right to effort implies preventing evil thoughts from life. One should also try to kill the bad thoughts in one’s life and improve. For that, you should see the positive side of everything. You should develop and try to bring perfection to everything.

• Rightful mildness

People should have the proper mindfulness, i.e., sensations or feelings toward everybody and thoughts about everything. One should always keep others’ emotions in regard. It would help if you did not have any opposing thoughts about anything. It would help if you did not have hatred in your mind against anything. We also must always try to keep peace in everything we do.