Next: 20 May 2027
Vesak
The full moon day of the Buddha's birth, enlightenment and death, kept with offerings of flowers.
What happens
Vesak is the most important day of the Buddhist year in South and South-East Asia. It marks the birth, the enlightenment and the passing of the Buddha, all said to have happened on the full moon of the same month. People dress in white and carry flowers, incense and lamps to the temple. Lotus buds are the favoured offering, often with the outer petals folded back by hand. The flower that is fresh in the morning and wilted by evening is a lesson that nothing lasts. The date differs slightly between countries.
The flowers
Also part of it, and being written: Nymphaea nouchali (The blue water lily, the national flower of Sri Lanka.).
More flowers and customs of Vesak
Decoration
Buddha's Birthday佛诞
A festival marking the birth of Gautama Buddha, celebrated across Asia in spring
🇮🇳 India and 3 more · Custom, Apr to May
Decoration
Paper lantern
Lanterns made of paper for festivals, light, and celebration across Asia and beyond
🇨🇳 China and 7 more · Parade or display
Original text by the Phool desk, written with AI assistance. Background: "Vesak" on Wikipedia. Customs differ from family to family and place to place. If we have something wrong, tell us.
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Plumeria: Renesis, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Arabian jasmine: Taken by Fanghong, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Buddha's Birthday: User: (WT-shared) Manoj nav at wts wikivoyage, Public domain, source
- Sacred lotus: T.Voekler, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Paper lantern: PhiloVivero, CC BY-SA 3.0, source