Vesak (Sinhalese) is an annual holiday observed
by practicing Buddhists. In Indian Mahayana Buddhist traditions, the holiday
is known by its Sanskrit equivalent, Vaisakha. The word Vesak itself is
the Sinhalese language word for the Pali variation, "Visakha". Vaish?kha
is the name of the second month of the lunar Hindu calendar. Vesak is also
known as Visakah Puja, Buddha Purnima or Buddha Jayanti in India, Bangladesh
and Nepal, Visakha Bucha in Thailand, Ph?t ??n in Vietnam, Waisak in Indonesia,
Vesak (Wesak) in Sri Lanka and Malaysia, ?? (fó dàn) in Chinese-speaking
countries, and Saga Dawa in Tibet. The equivalent festival in Laos is called
Vixakha Bouxa and in Myanmar is called Ka-sone-la-pyae meaning Fullmoon
Day of Kasone which is also the second month of the Myanmar Calendar. Vesak
is a public holiday in many Asian countries like Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Myanmar,
Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, and also Indonesia, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.
The exact date of Vesak varies according to the various
lunar calendars used in different traditions. In Theravada countries following
the Buddhist calendar, it falls on the full moon Uposatha day (typically
the 5th or 6th lunar month). In China it is the fourth month in the Chinese
lunar calendar, coinciding with the first full moon of that month. The
date varies from year to year in the Western Gregorian calendar but falls
in April or May.
Sometimes informally called "Buddha's birthday,"
it actually encompasses the birth, enlightenment Nirvana, and passing (Parinirvana)
of Gautama Buddha.
History
The decision to agree to celebrate Vesak as the
Buddha’s birthday was formalized at the first Conference of the World Fellowship
of Buddhists (W.F.B.) held in Sri Lanka in 1950 , although festivals at
this time in the Buddhist world are a centuries-old tradition. The Resolution
that was adopted at the World Conference reads as follows, "That this Conference
of the World Fellowship of Buddhists, while recording its appreciation
of the gracious act of His Majesty, the Maharaja of Nepal in making the
full-moon day of Vesak a Public Holiday in Nepal, earnestly requests the
Heads of Governments of all countries in which large or small number of
Buddhists are to be found, to take steps to make the full-moon day in the
month of May a Public Holiday in honour of the Buddha, who is universally
acclaimed as one of the greatest benefactors of Humanity."
On Vesak Day, Buddhists all over the world commemorate
events of significance to Buddhists of all traditions: The birth, enlightenment
and the passing away of Gautama Buddha. As Buddhism spread from India it
was assimilated into many foreign cultures, and consequently Vesak is celebrated
in many different ways all over the world.
You are cordially invited to join us.
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