Buddha Jayanti

Buddha Jayanti is the most important festival for Buddhist community. This is the holiest and the most auspicious day for Buddhism. Buddhist people highly respect this day and its sanctity. This festival is celebrated with high devotion and enthusiasm. This festival is celebrated in the whole world with different names; Vesak is most popular one. For Indians, it has special significance because India is the land of Lord Buddha .

Significance of Buddha Jayanti :

This day is sacred because on this day three important events related to the life of Lord Buddha took place. This day is honored with birth, enlightenment and ultimate passing away of Lord Buddha. India is the country where Lord Buddha learned about all the miseries of the life and renounced worldly pleasure. This is the place where he attained enlightenment and became Buddha.

Bodhgaya and Sarnath are the two Buddhist pilgrimages where the grand Buddha Purnima celebrations take place.

When Buddha Jayanti Celebrated?

Buddha is regarded as the ninth reincarnation of Lord Vishnu. Buddha Jayanti takes place in the monthof Vaisakh according to Hindu calendar. It occurs on the full moon day in this month which coincides with month of April or May according to Roman calendar.

 Celebrations of Buddha Purnima :

Grand celebrations and worship of Lord Buddha take place on this day at various Buddhist temples and Monasteries. Buddhist scriptures are recited non-stop for whole day in the monasteries, homes and religious venues. Prayers and sermons are chanted in reverence of Lord Buddha. Buddhist monks worship in monasteries and common Buddhist devotees listen to them.

Statue of Lord Buddha is worshipped with great devotion by all the Buddhist people all over the world and they offer flowers, fruits, incense and candles. Buddhist devotees also offer gifts to the monks and the statue of Lord Buddha.

Bodhi Tree is a Banyan tree so it receives special attention. People respect it by adorning it by garlands and colored flags. Then it is sprinkled with milk, scented water and a row of lit lamps. It is all believed to be sacred and auspicious.

Rituals

This day falls in the Vaishaka month of the Indian calendar. Prayers, sermons and non-stop recitations of Buddhist scriptures resonate in monasteries, religious halls and homes. In monasteries in Sikkim , monks hold day-long readings of the scriptures before the Buddha's statue. The lay people listen to these recitals, and also give gifts to the monks and the statue.

The statue of Buddha, in fact, receives special attention everywhere, with people offering it incense, flowers, candles and fruits. The Banyan tree - called the Bodhi tree for its part in Buddha's enlightenment - also receives a fair share of garlands and colored flags adorn it. People also sprinkle milk and scented waters on its roots and light rows of lamps around it.