Vesak
Also called Buddha Purnima, Buddha Jayanti, Wesak
The Buddha's birthday, lit up with lanterns
What it is
The full moon in May, sometimes early June
Vesak is the most important day of the year for a lot of Buddhists. It marks the Buddha's birth, his enlightenment and his death. Buddhists believe he was born in Lumbini, Nepal, and reached enlightenment under a tree in Bodh Gaya, India. The date can be a day apart in different countries.
How people celebrate
In Sri Lanka, people hang paper lanterns called Vesak kudu outside their homes.
Giant lit-up panels called thoran show stories from the Buddha's past lives.
Free food stalls called dansal hand out rice, drinks and ice cream to anyone walking by.
People go to temple dressed in white, bring flowers and light oil lamps.
A lot of Buddhists keep extra rules that day, like not eating meat.
What people eat
- Dansal food
- Whatever the free stall is serving, from curry and rice to noodles or iced coffee.
- Kola kenda
- A green herbal porridge made with rice and coconut milk.
- Kheer
- Milk rice pudding. The story goes that a woman named Sujata gave the Buddha milk rice before his enlightenment.
Did you know?
In 1999 the United Nations voted to recognize the Day of Vesak.