What is Vesak Day?
Vesak Day is celebrated for the birth, enlightenment and passing of the Buddha. It is a festival that is deeply cherished by all Buddhists worldwide. This day is celebrated in May on the full moon of the lunar month Vesakha. In the temples, candles are lit, prayers are chanted and doing good deeds is encouraged on the day. If you are a Buddhist or just curious about their traditions, experiencing Vesak Day can give you a glimpse of their spiritual devotion.
When is Vesak Day celebrated?
According to Buddhist tradition, Vesak Day falls on the day of the first full moon in the month of Vaisakha. The name Vesak day originates from the name of the month, Vaishakha. Since it is a lunar calendar, the date of Vesak Day in the Gregorian calendar varies every year. It is a declared public holiday in Singapore. The exact date of when Vesak Day will be celebrated varies annually based on the lunar calendar.
The history behind the day
Vesak Day commemorates the events of birth, the day of enlightenment, and the death of Gautam Buddha, who is the founder of Buddhism. According to old folk tales, all these happened on the day of the first full moon in the month of Vaishakha.
The Buddha was born in Lumbini, in present-day Nepal, near Kapilavastu. Gautama Buddha’s real name was Siddhartha Gautama. On the occasion of his birth, it was predicted that he would either become a great emperor or a great religious leader. Wanting his child to grow up to be a king, Gautama’s father shielded him from all sorts of religious teachings and made sure he lived a protected life inside the palace. He grew up without seeing anything outside the confines of his palace, unaware of anything going on in the outside world.
When he reached the age of 16, he got married and even had a child. But Gautama’s life didn’t feel satisfying to him. He grew more and more curious and uncomfortable as time passed. When he was 29 years old, he, one day, snuck out of his palace. It is said that he encountered 4 sights on his trip – an old person, a sick person, a dead body, and a holy man. On witnessing suffering and even death for the first time, Gautama was shocked and filled with the question of why misery and suffering exist in this world. Seeing the holy man who seemed content in his search for truth inspired Gautama to follow a similar path. In the middle of the night, he left his family and place in search of the answers to his questions. He travelled throughout the land in search of the truth of this world. For many years, he learned religious texts, looked into meditation, and tried various practices that he thought would help him understand the mysteries of the world. Finally, in a place called Bodh Gaya, he went into deep meditation and woke up enlightened. He understood what life’s true nature was and had the answers he was looking for.
After this incident, he adopted the name of Buddha and started teaching people and travelling. He took disciples and taught people wherever he went. It is said that he continued teaching people and spreading his messages for 45 more years and at last achieved nirvana on the day of Vesak.
How is Vesak Day celebrated in Singapore?
People believe that good deeds if done on Vesak Day are rewarded greatly. So, most people engage in charity and perform acts of kindness. It is a day of Self-reflection and realisation for many people.
- Early Morning Rituals- Temples host the Buddhist flag in the morning and they sing hymns to praise Buddha. The people also decorate the temple and their homes with flowers and lanterns or candles as well. It is a custom in many places to visit the temple to offer prayers and stay overnight to sing hymns and meditate.
- Bathing the Buddha Ceremony- Water is poured over the statues of Buddha. It is to commemorate the story of an infant, Buddha, being showered by the waters of 9 mythical dragons after his birth. In some places, they are then covered with gold to symbolise Buddha’s divinity.
- Three steps, one bow procession- it is practised especially at Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery in Singapore. Worshippers walk in circles and bow down after every three steps to show humility and devotion.
- Good deeds and acts of kindness- many people donate food to the needy people and donate blood as well. They also volunteer at elderly homes and do good deeds as they believe that these deeds multiply spiritual merit.
- Vegetarian diet- Out of respect for all the lives on the planet, many people only eat vegetarian on Vesak Day.
- Dharma Talks and Meditation Sessions- People go to the temple and engage in dharma talks. They do meditation and chant to support spiritual mindfulness.
- Eat milk rice pudding- It is a Vesak day ritual to cook a pot of rice in milk and make a pudding that the Buddha received from the milkmaid Sujata, which gave him the strength to protect the local ecosystem.
A note for all
When celebrating this Vesak day, we want to remind you that on this occasion, let us try to spread the message of empathy and compassion. Let’s pray and act towards easing the suffering of people in any way we can. Even the smallest acts of kindness can make a big difference for some people. You can look into how you can donate or even offer other forms of help to these people in need. Try to teach your children the message of love for all and show them how to do it by doing it yourself as an example. We hope for a day when all the people in the world can come together and enjoy themselves without any suffering and live a life full of peace and love!
We wish one and all a happy Vesak Day. We hope for a day when all the people in the world can come together and enjoy themselves without any suffering, living a life full of peace and love! 🙂
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the meaning of Vesak Day?
Vesak Day is celebrated for the birth, enlightenment and passing of the Buddha. It is a festival that is deeply cherished by all Buddhists worldwide. This day is celebrated in May on the full moon of the lunar month Vesakha.
2. Why is Vesak Day different in Malaysia and Singapore?
It is because people in Malaysia and Singapore follow different calendars. Malaysians follow the Hindu-Buddhist lunar calendar and they celebrate Vesak on the first full moon in May. Singaporeans follow the Chinese Lunar Calendar and celebrate it on the second full moon of the Visakha month.
3. Is Vesak a religious festival?
Vesak day is also known by the name of Buddha Purnima or Buddha Jayanti. It is the most important holiday in the Buddhist Calendar. People commemorate Buddha’s birth, his teachings and his death.
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