Visakha Puja Ceremony

Wat Yarnna Ransee Buddhist Monastery
21950  Shaw  Road, Sterling, Virginia 703-406-8290,  703-406-2509


 
 
 

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.


 
 

Schedule

Sunday  May 18th   2008

 
09:00 am. People should arrive at the temple
10:00 am. Monks chant in Pali
10:45 am. Monks walk around to receive some food from people.
11:00 am. Lunch served to monks
12:00 pm. Lunch for congregation
01:00 pm. Dhamma Talk (Sermon)
Blessing
Dismissal

Direction:-

From 495 take Rte.267 (Dulles Toll Road) to Dulles Airport, take exit 9b to Sully Road(Rte.28 North, Sterling) drive around 2 miles, turn right at Sterling Blvd and then turn left at Shaw rd.

Or turn right at Church Rd. and then right at Davis Dr, right at Cedar green rd.

From Rte.7 take cascade21950  Shaw  Road, Sterling, Virginia 703-406-8290,  703-406-2509

drive around 1 mile, turn right at Church rd, drive 1/2 mile, left at Davis dr.
 
 

Thank you....You have a wonderful day !!!

Sponsored by...

Dr.Moir Bowman Chiropractic  Therapist

http://www.drbowbandc.com
 

Contact temple:-
webmaster@watyarn.com