Dansalas Archives

Significance of Wesak – thrice-blessed day – By Arundathie Abeysinghe Wesak (also spelt Vesak) marks the Birth, the *Enlightenment and passing away of the Buddha. All these three significant events took place on a Full Moon *Poya Day in May. According to *Theravada tradition, the three most significant events in the life of the Buddha occurred on Wesak full moon Poya Day; birth of Prince Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha as a layman) in Lumbini in Nepal where Queen Mahamaya gave birth to him under the shelter of a Sal Tree (Shorea robusta) around 566 BCE. The second significant event was Siddhartha Gautama’s Enlightenment (supreme attainment as the Buddha). The third significant event was the Buddha’s Parinibbana (or *parinirvana) approximately 2500 years ago at *Kusinara. Buddha means the enlightened or awakened one. Buddhists do not believe in a single god who created the world. Wesak Day is celebrated by Buddhists, globally. ...

A major festival in Sri Lanka ” Vesak “ – By Malsha – eLanka Vesak is a Buddhist festival that commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and death of the Buddha. It is celebrated on the full moon day in the month of Vesakha (usually in May) in many countries around the world, including in South and Southeast Asia. The festival is typically observed by practicing Buddhists through acts of merit, such as making offerings at temples, performing acts of charity, and observing the eight precepts. In some countries, the festival is celebrated with parades, processions, and other public events. Vesak is an important holiday in Buddhism, as it marks significant milestones in the life of the Buddha and serves as a reminder of his teachings and their relevance to modern times. It is also a time for Buddhists to reflect on their own spiritual practice and to recommit to living a ...