Buddha’s birthday is celebrated in many Asian countries, with customs varying across the map. Buddhists commemorate the birth, enlightenment, and death of the Buddha, reflecting on his teachings and what it means to practice the faith. Observers attend temples, decorate their homes with lanterns, gather for feasts, and participate in rituals involving statues of Buddha. The birthday of the historical Buddha, also known as Vesak, is celebrated on different dates depending on the school of Buddhism or country one belongs to. It is observed on the eighth day of the fourth month of the lunisolar calendar, falling on May 15 in several Asian countries, and on the first full moon of May, which falls on May 23 in South and Southeast Asian countries.
Siddhartha, the historical Buddha, was born in Lumbini, which borders India and Nepal. His mother, Maya, had a dream of an auspicious white elephant entering her womb when she conceived. The child’s birth was miraculous, with the baby receiving a cleansing bath from the gods soon after being born. Siddhartha grew up sheltered from pain and suffering by his father, but upon witnessing sickness, old age, and death, he embarked on a spiritual journey. After six years of ascetic practice, he attained enlightenment at the age of 35 in Bodh Gaya, becoming known as the Buddha, or “the awakened one.”
Buddhists use Buddha’s birthday as a time to celebrate and reflect on his teachings. In Asian cultures, the day marks not only the birth but also the enlightenment and passing of the Buddha. Families decorate their homes with lanterns, attend local temples for chanting, meditation, and festivities, and gather for feasts. In South Korea, Buddha’s birthday is a national holiday, with a lotus lantern festival in Seoul featuring colorful paper lanterns. In China, a bathing ceremony of the infant Buddha is done with scented blessed water, symbolizing purity. In Japan, Buddha’s birthday is celebrated as a flower festival, with a ceremony recreating the birth of Buddha in Lumbini.
Countries in South and Southeast Asia celebrate Buddha’s birthday on the full moon of the second lunar month known as Vesakha or Vaisakha. The Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya is adorned, and special prayers are performed under the bodhi tree. In Malaysia and China, animals and birds are set free as a gesture of good karma. In Sri Lanka, homes and streets are decorated with candles and lanterns, and devotional songs and incense burning are common. In Vietnam, Buddha’s birthday is a popular festival, with past celebrations as a public holiday in South Vietnam.
Overall, Buddha’s birthday is a significant holiday for Buddhists around the world, with various customs and rituals marking the occasion. It is a time for reflection, celebration, and honoring the teachings of the Buddha. From lantern festivals to bathing ceremonies, devotees come together to pay homage to the historical figure who founded Buddhism and spread his message of peace and enlightenment.
