Vesak, also known as Buddha Purnima or Buddha Day, is the most significant Buddhist festival that marks the birth, enlightenment (nirvana), and death (parinirvana) of Gautama Buddha. Celebrated on the full moon day in the month of Vesakha, the day typically falls in April or May in the Gregorian calendar. This year, Vesak 2024, or Buddha Purnima 2024, falls on Thursday, May 23. Gautama Buddha, whose birth name was Siddhartha Gautama, was a spiritual teacher on whose teachings Buddhism was founded. It will be the 2586th birth anniversary of Gautama Buddha this year. Vesak holds great importance for Buddhists worldwide and is celebrated with great enthusiasm and fanfare by people of the Buddhist community. Buddha Purnima 2024 Wishes & HD Images: WhatsApp Status, Vesak Day Messages, GIFs, HD Wallpapers, Quotes and SMS for Significant Buddhist Festival.

The name Vesak is derived from the Pali term Vesakha or Sanskrit vaisakha for the lunar month of Vaisakha, which is considered the month of Buddha's birth. In 2000, the United Nations (UN) resolved to internationally observe the day of Vesak at its headquarters and offices. In Mahayana Buddhist traditions, the holiday is known by its Sanskrit name Vaisakha and derived variants of it.

As per records, the first conference of the World Fellowship of Buddhists which was held in Sri Lanka in 1950, formalised the decision to celebrate Vesak as the Buddha's birthday across multiple Buddhist countries.

Vesak 2024 Date

Vesak 2024 will be celebrated on Thursday, May 23.

Vesak Significance

On Vesak Day, Buddhists worldwide commemorate events that depict Buddha's life like birth, enlightenment and his last years. Vesak is celebrated in many different ways all over the world. In India, Vaishakh Purnima Day is also known as Buddha Jayanti Day and has been traditionally accepted as Buddha's birthday. For people, of the Buddhist community, Bodh Gaya is the most important pilgrimage site related to the life of Gautama Buddha. The other three important pilgrimage sites include Kushinagar, Lumbini, and Sarnath. Buddha Purnima 2024 Rangoli Designs: Beautiful Rangoli Patterns To Decorate Your House on Vesak Day (Watch Videos).

It is believed that Gautama Buddha obtained Enlightenment at Bodhagaya and he first taught the Dharma at Sarnath. On the day of Vesak, followers of Gautam Buddha assemble in temples before dawn for the ceremonial and honourable hoisting of the Buddhist flag and the singing of hymns in praise of the Buddha and his teachings.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 23, 2024 11:13 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).