Buddhist festivals: Vesak Day

The sun is rising over Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Though it’s early in the morning, many Buddhists have gathered at a temple outside the city. Today is a special day in the Buddhist calendar: the Day of the Full Moon in the lunar month of Vaisakha — the Buddha’s birthday! It is known as Vesak Day. When evening comes, a candlelight procession travels from the temple to Kuala Lumpur city.

It is led by a decorated float carrying a statue of the Buddha. Thousands of Buddhists and spectators line the route. Vesak Day is celebrated by millions of Buddhists around the world. For some, it marks not only the Buddha’s birthday, but also the day he became enlightened and the day he died. It is the most sacred day of the year for Buddhists and is a national holiday in some countries.

Vesak usually falls in the month of May, but the exact date differs from year to year, and sometimes from country to country. Buddhists in different countries all have their own way of celebrating, too. Just as in Kuala Lumpur, many Buddhists around the world visit their local temple on Vesak. The temple is often decorated for the occasion. In South Korea, paper lanterns shaped like lotus flowers cover entire temples.

Followers sometimes bring offerings to monks at the temple. These are simple gifts like candles, incense, or flowers. They carry a reminder for Buddhists: just as candles and incense burn down and flowers wilt, so too will all life fade away. Everything changes, and nothing lasts forever. At some temples, Buddhists partake in a special Vesak ceremony called ‘Bathing the Buddha’.

In Southeast Asia, followers pour scented water over a statue of the baby Buddha. This shows respect to Buddha for his teachings; celebrates new beginnings; and reminds followers to purify their own minds – to get rid of greed, hatred, and ignorance. In Japan, followers use a sweet tea, called amacha, to bathe the Buddha. They remember the legend that says nine dragons poured sacred water from the sky to be used for the baby Buddha’s first bath. Celebrating Vesak also means helping others and bringing happiness to people who might need it.

Around Vesak, Buddhists make an extra effort to donate to charity and to volunteer with organisations that help people who are old or sick. In South Korea, temples provide free meals to all visitors on Vesak Day. Many Buddhists also avoid eating meat around Vesak as a way to practise compassion towards animals. In Sri Lanka and some other countries, all slaughterhouses are closed during the national holiday. Back in Kuala Lumpur, the procession has returned to the temple.

An open-air service is underway. People listen to a sermon reminding them to live a life of peace, compassion, and kindness towards all beings just as the Buddha taught.