Buddhist holidays are events full of kindness and joy. Every year, Buddhists around the world celebrate many holidays and organize festivals, most of which are associated with important events in the life of the Buddha or various bodhisattvas. Holiday dates are set according to the lunar calendar and may not match in different countries and traditions. As a rule, on the day of the festival, the laity go to the local Buddhist temple to bring food and other items to the monks in the early morning, as well as listen to moral instructions. Daytime can be devoted to helping the poor, walking around the temple or stupa in honor of the Three Jewels, reciting mantras and meditation. The most important Buddhist holidays are briefly described below.
Buddhist New Year
In different parts of the world this holiday falls on different dates. In Theravada countries (Thailand, Burma, Sri Lanka, Cambodia and Laos) New Year is celebrated on the full moon day of April and is celebrated for three days. In the Mahayana tradition, the New Year usually begins on the first full moon of January, and most Tibetan Buddhists celebrate it in March. ATcountries of South Asia on this day it is customary to pour water on each other.
Celebrations in Theravada Tradition - Vesak (Buddha Day)
Some Buddhist holidays are of special significance and are held on a large scale, for example, Vesak - Buddha's Day. On the full moon of May, Buddhists around the world celebrate the birth, enlightenment and passing of the Buddha (with the exception of a leap year, when the holiday falls in early June). The word "Vesak" is used according to the name of the month in the Indian calendar.
Magha Puja (Sangha Day)
Magha Puja is celebrated on the full moon of the third lunar month and may occur in February or March. This sacred day serves as a reminder of an important event in the life of the Buddha, which happened in the early period of his career as a teacher. After the first retreat in the rainy season, the Buddha went to the city of Rajagaha. 1250 arhats (enlightened disciples) returned here, without prior arrangement, after their wanderings, in order to pay respect to the teacher. They gathered at the monastery of Veruvana along with the two senior disciples of the Buddha, Venerable Sariputra and Moggalana.
Buddhist holidays in the Mahayana tradition - Ulambana (Day of the Ancestors)
Followers of the Mahayana celebrate this holiday from the beginning of the eighth lunar month to its fifteenth lunar day. It is believed that the gates of Hell open on the first day of this month and spirits can move into the human world for two weeks. Food offerings made during this period can alleviate the suffering of ghosts. On the fifteenth day, Ulambanu,people visit cemeteries to make offerings to deceased ancestors. Some Theravadins from Cambodia, Laos and Thailand also celebrate this annual event. For Japanese Buddhists, a similar holiday is called Obon, begins on July 13, lasts 3 days and is dedicated to the birth of the departed family ancestors in new bodies.
Avalokitesvara's birthday
This holiday is dedicated to the ideal of the bodhisattva, embodied by Avalokiteshvara, who personifies perfect compassion in the Mahayana tradition of Tibet and China. The holiday falls on the full moon of March.
Bodhi Day (Enlightenment Day)
This day is customary to honor the enlightenment of Siddhartha Gautama, who became the Buddha. As a rule, Buddhists celebrate this important holiday on December 8 by reciting mantras, sutras, meditating and listening to teachings.
There are other Buddhist holidays that have different scales and their own unique specifics. They can be held annually or more frequently.
