“Be kind to all creatures; this is the true religion.” – Buddha
Vesak Day, also known as Buddha Purnima and Buddha Jayanti, is one of the most important and sacred days for those practising Buddhism. Buddhists all over the world celebrate this special day with the utmost devotion.
When is it 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. This year, Vesak day falls on the 15th of May. It is a declared public holiday in Singapore.
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 it celebrated?
Temples host the Buddhist flag at dawn and sing hymns in praise of Buddha. People decorate the temples and homes with flowers and lanterns, while some might light candles too. It is customary in many places to visit the temples to offer prayers or even stay overnight in meditation and singing hymns. Incense sticks, flowers, and candles are given to the temples as offerings. Another popular ritual that is performed is bathing Buddha statues. 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.
People believe that good deeds done on this 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.
A note for all
When celebrating this Vesak day, we want to remind you that the world is still full of suffering- the same suffering that Buddha tried to understand and tried to alleviate. On this auspicious day, let us do some good deeds. Especially when the world and people around us are suffering. One of the recent incidents we can see came from Ukraine, where thousands were killed, millions injured or displaced. They are the same as us, human beings who have every right to life and dignity as we have. So, why then are many of us cheering and supporting the aggressor when our fellow human beings are suffering?
On this occasion, let us try to spread the message of empathy and compassion. Let us pray and act towards alleviating the suffering of people in any way we can. Even the smallest acts of kindness can make a big difference for the people receiving them. 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 by example.
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! 🙂
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