The birthday of the historical Buddha or Shakyamuni Buddha, known as Vesak in several countries, celebrates the birth of the child who became Prince Siddhartha around the end of the 4th century BC. This is a sacred occasion for all Buddhists, but it is celebrated on dates many different. depending on the school of Buddhism or the country to which it belongs. In several Asian countries, it is celebrated on the eighth day of the fourth month of the lunisolar calendar, which this year falls on May 15. In several countries in South and Southeast Asia, it is celebrated on the first full moon of May, which falls on May 23.
BIRTH AND LIFE OF BUDDHA
Siddhartha was born in Lumbini, which is on the border between what is now India and Nepal. His mother, Maya, was the wife of Suddhodana, king of the Shakya clan. According to Buddhist tradition, when she conceived, the queen dreamed that an auspicious white elephant entered her womb. Several texts narrate the child’s miraculous birth, detailing how the baby was received by the gods Indra and Brahma and took seven steps immediately after being born. It is then believed that he received a cleansing bath from the gods, or dragon kings, depending on the country or culture where the legend originated.
Suddhodana protected his son from pain and suffering, believing that keeping him isolated would put him on the path to becoming king. However, he was unable to protect Siddhartha for long, and the prince began to reflect after witnessing illness, old age and death. Disillusioned with the impermanence of life, Siddhartha engaged in six years of ascetic practice and achieved enlightenment at the age of 35 in Bodh Gaya in northeastern India. He then became known as Buddha, which means “the awakened one”.
WHY AND HOW IS BUDDHA’S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATED?
Buddhists around the world take this time not only to celebrate, but also to reflect on Buddha’s teachings and what it means to practice faith. In many parts of Asia, the holy day marks not only the birth but also the enlightenment and passing of the Buddha. In most Asian cultures and the diaspora, Buddhists go to local temples and participate in chanting, meditation, and festivities throughout the day. Families decorate their homes with lanterns and gather for parties.
KOREAS
Buddha’s birthday is a national holiday in South Korea. The highlight of the celebration in Seoul is the lotus lantern festival called Yeondeunghoe, a parade of thousands of colorful, illuminated paper lanterns, often shaped like lotus flowers, hanging in temples and streets. On Buddha’s birthday, many temples offer free meals and tea to all visitors. Festivities in temple courtyards and parks include traditional games and various performing arts displays. The luminous screen is believed to symbolize the light of Buddha’s teachings.
Although Buddha’s birthday is not an official holiday in North Korea, it has been celebrated in Buddhist temples since 1988. In 2018, Buddhist monks in North and South Korea held joint religious services as animosities between their governments subsided. But these exchange programs have been halted in recent years due to tensions related to North Korea’s nuclear program.
CHINA
In China, worshipers perform a bathing ceremony that involves pouring scented holy water over a statue of the boy Buddha, whose right index finger is pointed upward toward the sky and the left index finger is pointed downward toward the Earth. According to legend, the Buddha announced shortly after birth that he would have no more rebirths, and the dragons in the sky baptized him with pure water.
JAPAN
In Japan, April 8 is celebrated as Buddha’s birthday and is celebrated in Buddhist temples as Hana Matsuri, which means flower festival. On this day, a small “flower hall” is set up on the temple grounds and decorated with colorful flowers. A bowl of water with a statue of baby Buddha is placed in the middle and devotees pour sweet tea on the statue’s head. A priest performs the Kambutsu-e nativity festival recreating the birth of Buddha in the Lumbini garden.
SOUTH AND SOUTHEAST ASIA
South and Southeast Asian countries celebrate Buddha’s birthday on the full moon of the second lunar month known as Vesakha or Vaisakha. The Sanskrit word for full moon is Purnima, which is why the holiday is also called Buddha Purnima. The Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya is decorated on this day and devotees perform special prayers under the bodhi tree, under which the Buddha is believed to have attained enlightenment. In India and Nepal, sweet rice porridge is served on this day to remember the story of Sujata, a maiden who offered the Buddha a bowl of milk porridge.
In Malaysia and China, caged animals and birds are released on Buddha’s birthday because people believe this is good karma. In Sri Lanka, celebrants decorate homes and streets with paper and bamboo candles and lanterns. The festivities feature devotional songs, decorative structures called “pandals,” incense burning and electric light displays depicting stories from the life of Buddha. In Vietnam, Buddha’s birthday is still a popular festival, but not a public holiday, as was the case from 1958 to 1975 in the former South Vietnam.
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