PM greets the people on the occasion of Buddha Purnima
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted the people on the auspicious occasion of Buddha Purnima.
“Buddha Purnima greetings to everyone. Gautama Buddha’s noble teachings have impacted millions of people over centuries. He is the epitome of knowledge, peace and compassion. May his teachings continue to inspire us to create a peaceful and just society,” the Prime Minister said.
Greetings on Buddha Purnima.
India celebrates Buddha Poornima
As per Hindu calendar, Buddha Poornima (बुद्ध पूर्णिमा)
falls on the full moon day of Baisakh / Vaishakh month.
Buddha Purnima during Vaishakha month is celebrated
as birth anniversary of Gautama Buddha. Gautama Buddha whose birth name
was Siddhartha Gautama was a spiritual teacher on whose teachings
Buddhism was founded.
Buddha Poornima (बुद्ध पूर्णिमा) is
an international festival celebrated by Buddhists all over the world. The only
difference is that it is known by different names. Buddha Purnima is also known
as Buddha Jayanti, Vesak, Vaishaka and Buddha’s
Birthday.
Buddha Poornima (बुद्ध पूर्णिमा),
is usually observed in the month of April or May. However, Buddha Poornima (बुद्ध पूर्णिमा) in
2016 will be observed on Saturday, 21st May. Buddha Poornima (बुद्ध पूर्णिमा)
marks the birth, enlightenment and death of Gautam Buddha. The day begins with
lots of festivities that include, visiting temples, offering prayers and
carrying out processions. Buddhists from all parts of the globe come and visit
Bodh Gaya (in Bihar), Lumbini (in Nepal) and Kushinagar (in Uttar Pradesh).
Bodh Gaya is the place where Gautam Buddha obtained Enlightenment, Lumbini is
the place where Gautam Buddha was born and Kushinagar is the place where Gautam
Buddha died .
The time of Gautama Buddha’s birth and death is uncertain. However, most historians date his lifetime between 563-483 B.C. Most people consider Lumbini, Nepal as birth place of Buddha. Buddha died at the age of 80 at Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh.
For Buddhists, Bodh Gaya is the most important pilgrimage site related to the life of Gautama Buddha. The other three important pilgrimage sites are Kushinagar, Lumbini, and Sarnath. It is believed that Gautama Buddha obtained Enlightenment at Bodhagaya and he first taught the Dharma at Sarnath.
It is believed that Gautama Buddha obtained Enlightenment and passed away on the same day. In North India Buddha is considered as the 9th incarnation and Lord Krishna as the 8th incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
How
India celebrates
People who have embraced Buddhism usually pay a visit to
common Viharas to begin their celebration. There they observe a full-length
Buddhist sutra which is very similar to a service.
Non-vegetarian food is renounced for the day, and
followers choose to dress in white. Consumption and distribution of popular
Indian dish 'Kheer' is undertaken, because according to legend, a woman named
Sujata offered a bowl of milk to Gautama Buddha.
Buddha Purnima celebration is all about praying with the
purest of feelings, and adopting what Buddhism stand for- peace, non-violence
and harmony.
Buddha's birth country is considered as Nepal, and there
this day is celebrated in accordance to the full moon day of the Vaisakha month
of the Buddhist calendar.
Neighbouring Southeast Asian countries too, celebrate
this day during the Vaisakha month of the Buddhist and Hindu calendar, which is
usually the month of April or May according to the Western Gregorian calendar.
Celebrations
worldwide
Countries all over the world celebrate the essence of
Buddhism on this day, and it is not limited only to Southeast Asia. The day is
a public holiday in many countries, including China, India, Cambodia,
Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand and South
Vietnam; Canada, Australia and United States (US), too, celebrate this festival
by commemorating different ethnicities and cultures.
It is one of the widest celebrated festival in the world.
The countries where you can see grand celebrations are Sri Lanka, Bangladesh,
Bhutan, India, Nepal and the South East Asian countries of Singapore, Vietnam,
Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Indonesia.
The decision to agree to celebrate Vesākha as the
Buddha’s birthday was formalized at the first conference of the World
Fellowship of Buddhists held in Sri Lanka in 1950, although festivals at
this time in the Buddhist world are a centuries-old tradition.
In 1999, the United Nations resolved to internationally
observe the day of Vesak at its headquarters and offices
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