Buddha Purnima 2024 Date

Buddha Purnima is also known as Buddha Jayanti or Vesak is a well-known Buddhist festival. It marks the birth of enlightenment and death of Gautama Buddha. The festival is celebrated by Buddhist situated in different parts of the world such as Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Malaysia and many more. The date of the festival does not remain same every year however; it is celebrated on full moon day in the Vesakh month. Usually the festival falls in April or May month. And if it is a leap year then festival falls in the June month. Buddha Purnima Date for 2024 is May 23, Thursday, 2024.

About Gautama Buddha

Gautam Buddha is born as Siddhartha Gautama born to to King Suddhodana. He led a luxurious life as he was a prince. However, even after becoming a king, he kept aloof from the outside world because it was predicted that he would become a monarch. His father does not allow him to go outside so that he does not affected by the religious life outside. After he turns 29, he decided to find out more about the world and started excursions to different places of the world. During his trips on the chariot, he saw an old man, a sick man, and a corpse. As King Siddhartha Gautama, had no idea about the miseries of aging, sickness, and death, his charioteer explained about all these miseries in detail. And towards the end of the trip, he met a monk and was attracted by his peaceful behavior. Therefore, he decided to leave the luxurious life and wanted to discover the pain a man goes through all around him.

He decided to leave the palace and become a wanderer. He spent many years in learning medication under Alara Kalama and Udraka Ramaputra. Even after realizing the high states of mystical realization, he went in the search of nirvana, (enlightenment). He sat under banyan tree and seeked enlightenment. And after attaining the enlightenment, he started preaching about the same and attained Buddhism.

Buddha Purnima-Celebration

On the day of Buddha Festival, Buddha idols were worshipped and prayer meetings are held. Buddhist devotees visit the Buddhist shrines and recite scriptures. They also engage themselves in meditation. On this special occasion, the Mahabodhi temple in Bodhgaya is decorated and special prayers are conducted under the Bodhi tree. It is the same tree where Gautama Buddha acquired enlightenment. The national museum in New Delhi displays the holy remains of Lord Buddha on the occasion of Gautam Buddha. ‘Kheer’ is a special delicacy of this holy festival.

History of Buddha Purnima

It has been long years, say several centuries, Buddha Purnima is celebrated in a traditional way in the Mahayana Buddhist. In 563 BCE, Gautam Buddha was born in Lumbini (today’s Nepal), according to the Theravada Tripitaka scriptures. Previously, the day was celebrated as Vesak but after first conference of the World Fellowship of Buddhists in 1999, the festival is recognized as Buddha Purnima. It is a significant day for Buddhists as it marks the birth, enlightenment, and death of Buddha. It is one of the prominent festivals celebrated amongst Buddhists.

Main Symbols

During Buddha Purnima, Dharma wheel is the greatest symbol shows the eight teachings of Gautam Buddha such as Peace, Tolerance, Kindness and Compassion.
On this occassio, people wear white clothes
Rice pudding kheer is served to everyone. As per the legends, a lady named Sujata served Buddha with kheer on his birthday once and it has become a practice since.
The worship of the statue of Gautam Buddha is the part of the festival.
The sculpture is kept in a bowl filled in water and decorated with flowers. Devotees pour the water over the statue which represent pure start.

Buddha Purnima 2025 Date