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{{Short description|Buddhist festival marking the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha}}
{{About|a Buddhist festival|the Hindu and Sikh new year festival|Vaisakhi|the disciple of Buddha|Visakha}}
{{EngvarB|date=May 2015}} 
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2019}} 
{{Infobox holiday
| image         = 1 Wesak Day (in Thailand) 2007.jpg
| caption       = Vesak Day celebrations at [[Sanam Luang]] in [[Bangkok]], Thailand
| holiday_name  = Vesak
| official_name = Vesak, Vesākha, Buddha Jayanti, Buddha Purnima, Vaishakh Purnima, Saka Dawa
| nickname      = [[Buddha's Birthday]] or Buddha Day
| date          = Full moon of the lunar month of Vesākha, usually in April, May or June.
| scheduling    = 
| duration      = 1 day
| observances   = [[Buddhist meditation|Meditation]], observing, and some [[Eight Precepts]], partaking of vegetarian food, giving to charity, "bathing" the Buddha
| observedby    = [[Buddhist]], [[Jains]] and [[Hindus]]
| type          = Buddhist
| significance  = To mark as commemoration of the birth, enlightenment and death of [[The Buddha]]
| relatedto     = [[Buddha's Birthday]]<br /> '''Other related festivals'''<br />[[Laba Festival]] <small>(in China)</small><br />[[:ja:成道会|Rohatsu]] <small>(in Japan)</small>
| frequency     = Annual
| date{{LASTYEAR}} = {{plainlist|
* 11 May (Mainland Southeast Asia)<ref name="THA">{{cite web|url=https://publicholidays.asia/thailand/visakha-bucha-day/|title=Visakha Bucha Day 2024, 2025 and 2026 in Thailand|website=PublicHolidays|access-date=13 April 2024}}</ref>
* 12 May (Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, South Asia)<ref name="PublicHolidaysMY">{{cite web|url=https://publicholidays.com.my/wesak-day/|title=Wesak Day 2024, 2025 and 2026|website=PublicHolidays|access-date=13 April 2024|archive-date=13 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200513104504/https://publicholidays.com.my/wesak-day/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://publicholidays.asia/myanmar/full-moon-day-of-kasong/|title=Full Moon Day of Kasong 2024, 2025 and 2026 in Myanmar|website=PublicHolidays|archive-date=29 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240529155204/https://publicholidays.asia/myanmar/full-moon-day-of-kasong/}}</ref><ref name="PublicHolidaysSG">{{cite web|url=https://publicholidays.sg/vesak-day/|title=Vesak Day 2024, 2025 and 2026|website=PublicHolidays|access-date=13 April 2024|archive-date=25 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240225082345/https://publicholidays.sg/vesak-day/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="PublicHolidaysID">{{cite web|url=https://publicholidays.co.id/waisak-day/|title=Waisak Day 2024, 2025 and 2026|website=PublicHolidays|access-date=13 April 2024|archive-date=3 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230203112018/https://publicholidays.co.id/waisak-day/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="PublicHolidaysLK">{{cite web|url=https://publicholidays.lk/vesak-day/|title=Vesak Day 2024, 2025 and 2026|access-date=13 April 2024|website=PublicHolidays|archive-date=30 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210430072529/https://publicholidays.lk/vesak-day/|url-status=live}}</ref>
}}
| date{{CURRENTYEAR}} = {{plainlist|
* 30 April (Myanmar)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://myanmar.gov.mm/my/upcoming-holidays|title=Upcoming government holidays|publisher=Myanmar National Portal|archive-date=28 April 2026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260428211215/https://myanmar.gov.mm/my/upcoming-holidays}}</ref>
* 1 May (Cambodia, India, Laos)<ref name="PublicHolidaysKH">{{cite web|url=https://www.ocm.gov.kh/holiday-calendar|title=Annual Holiday Calendar|publisher=Office of the Council of Ministers|archive-date=24 March 2026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260324091143/https://www.ocm.gov.kh/holiday-calendar|url-status=live|access-date=28 April 2026}}</ref><ref name="PublicHolidaysIN">{{cite web |url=https://www.india.gov.in/calendar?date=2026-05|title=Holiday Calendar|publisher=National Portal of India}}</ref>
* 30 May (Sri Lanka)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newsfirst.lk/2025/12/31/vesak-poya-day-in-2026-to-be-revised-following-chief-prelates%E2%80%99-request|title=Vesak Poya Day in 2026 to be Revised Following Chief Prelates’ Request|date=31 December 2025}}</ref>
* 31 May (Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Mongolia)<ref name="THA"/><ref name="PublicHolidaysMY"/><ref name="PublicHolidaysSG"/><ref name="PublicHolidaysID"/>
}}
| date{{NEXTYEAR}} = {{plainlist|
20 May<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.drikpanchang.com/festivals/buddha-purnima/buddha-purnima-date-time.html?year=2027 |title=Buddha Purnima |publisher=Drik Panchang}}</ref>
}}
}}
{{Theravada Buddhism|Days}}
'''Vesak''' ({{langx|pi|Vesākha}}; [[Sanskrit]]: ''{{lang|sa-Latn|vaiśākha}}''), also known as '''Buddha Jayanti''',<ref name="Wesak">{{cite web |title=BBC on Buddhism |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/buddhism/holydays/wesak.shtml |website=BBC Religion |publisher=[[BBC]] |access-date=21 November 2018 |ref=69 |archive-date=3 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200203023419/http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/buddhism/holydays/wesak.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> '''Buddha Purnima''',<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.buddhistdoor.net/news/making-history-vesak-celebrated-at-the-white-house-with-candle-offerings|title=Making History: Vesak Celebrated at the White House with Candle Offerings|date=27 May 2021}}</ref> '''Visak Bochea''' and '''Buddha Day''', is a holiday traditionally observed by [[Buddhism|Buddhists]] in [[South Asia]] and [[Southeast Asia]], as well as in [[Tibet]] and [[Mongolia]].<ref name="Source">{{cite book|title=World Religions: it is celebrated to mark the birth, enlightenment and the passing away of the Lord Buddha. An Introduction for Students|first=Jeaneane D.|last=Fowler|publisher=[[Sussex Academic Press]]|year=1997|isbn=1-898723-48-6|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/worldreligionsin0000unse}}</ref> It is among the most important [[Buddhist festival]]s. The festival commemorates the birth, enlightenment (Pali: [[Nibbāna]], Sanskrit: [[Nirvāṇa]]), and death ([[Parinibbāna|Parinirvāna]]) of [[Gautama Buddha]] in [[Theravada]], [[Tibetan Buddhism]], and [[Navayana]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/thai/lee/visakha.html |title=Visakha Puja |publisher= |access-date=20 March 2012 |archive-date=4 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120304205036/http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/thai/lee/visakha.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

The name ''Vesak'' is derived from the [[Pali]] term ''{{lang|pl|vesākha}}'' or [[Sanskrit]] ''{{lang|sa-Latn|vaiśākha}}'' for the [[lunar month]]  of [[Vaisakha]], which is considered the month of Buddha's birth.<ref name="HT">{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/festivals/buddha-purnima-2021-date-history-significance-of-buddha-jayanti-101621948554517.html|title=Buddha Purnima 2021: Date, history, significance of Buddha Jayanti|date=26 May 2021|access-date=26 July 2021|archive-date=5 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230605131522/https://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/festivals/buddha-purnima-2021-date-history-significance-of-buddha-jayanti-101621948554517.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In [[Mahayana]] Buddhist traditions, the holiday is known by its Sanskrit name (''{{lang|sa-Latn|Vaiśākha}}'') and derived variants of it.

In the East Asian tradition, a celebration of [[Buddha's Birthday]] typically occurs around the traditional timing of Vesak, while the Buddha's awakening and death are celebrated as separate holidays that occur at other times in the calendar as [[Bodhi Day]] and [[Parinirvana Day|Nibbāna Day]]. In the South Asian tradition, where Vesak is celebrated on the full moon day of the [[Vaisakha]] month, the Vesak day marks the birth, enlightenment, and the ultimate death of the [[Buddha]].<ref name=Boston>{{cite web|url=https://www.bpl.org/blogs/post/the-origins-and-practices-of-holidays-vesak/l|title=The Origins and Practices of Holidays: Vesak|date=18 May 2019}}{{Dead link|date=February 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.timesnownews.com/spiritual/religion/article/buddha-purnima-2021-why-is-buddha-birth-anniversary-celebrated-date-significance-and-importance-of-the-day/762008|title=Buddha Purnima 2021: Why is Buddha Birth anniversary celebrated? Date, significance and importance of the day|date=26 May 2021|access-date=25 July 2021|archive-date=7 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230407000441/https://www.timesnownews.com/spiritual/religion/article/buddha-purnima-2021-why-is-buddha-birth-anniversary-celebrated-date-significance-and-importance-of-the-day/762008|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.royalholidayssrilanka.com/publications/events/vesak|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819071226/http://www.royalholidayssrilanka.com/publications/events/vesak|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 August 2016|title=Vesak Festival|date=7 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.welcomenepal.com/whats-on/buddha-jayanti.html|title=BUDDHA JAYANTI|date=6 May 2020|access-date=25 July 2021|archive-date=24 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210124031208/https://www.welcomenepal.com/whats-on/buddha-jayanti.html|url-status=usurped}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:The birth of the Buddha; scene with Queen Maya Wellcome V0046076.jpg|thumb|[[Maya (mother of the Buddha)|Queen Maya]] holds onto a branch of a tree while giving birth to the Buddha, who is received by the [[Śakra (Buddhism)|Śakra]] as other gods look on.]]
Although Buddhist festivals have centuries-old tradition, the first conference of the [[World Fellowship of Buddhists]] held in [[Sri Lanka]] in 1950 formalized the decision to celebrate Vesak as the Buddha's birthday across multiple Buddhist countries. The resolution that was adopted at the World Conference reads as follows:
{{blockquote|That this Conference of the World Fellowship of Buddhists, while recording its appreciation of the gracious act of His Majesty, the [[King of Nepal|Maharaja of Nepal]] in making the full-moon day of Vesak a [[Culture of Nepal#Festivals and celebrations|Public Holiday in Nepal]], earnestly requests the Heads of Governments of all countries in which large or small number of Buddhists are to be found, to take steps to make the full-moon day in the month of May a Public Holiday in honour of the Buddha, who is universally acclaimed as one of the greatest benefactors of Humanity.<ref>{{Cite web|title = World Fellowship of Buddhists Second Two-Year Plan (B.E. 2544-2545/2001-2002)|url = http://www.bdcu.org.au/bddronline/bddr11no3/wfbs2ypn.html#plan1|website = Buddha Dhyana Dana Review Online|access-date = 2015-12-25|archive-date = 12 February 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200212112707/http://www.bdcu.org.au/bddronline/bddr11no3/wfbs2ypn.html#plan1|url-status = live}}</ref>}}
On Vesak Day, Buddhists around the world commemorate three major events in the life of [[Buddha Gautama]]: his birth, enlightenment, and passing (Parinirvana). As Buddhism spread from India it was assimilated into many foreign cultures, and consequently 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 birth day.

In 2000, the [[United Nations|United Nations (UN)]] resolved to internationally observe the day of Vesak at its headquarters and offices.<ref>{{cite web|title=Resolution Adopted by the General Assembly: 54/115. International recognition of the Day of Vesak at United Nations Headquarters and other United Nations offices|url=http://www.worldlii.org/int/other/UNGARsn/1999/192.pdf|publisher=United Nations|access-date=6 February 2012|archive-date=14 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200714004347/http://www.worldlii.org/int/other/UNGARsn/1999/192.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Celebration==
The month of May usually has one full moon, but as there are 29.5 days between full moons, occasionally there are two. If there are two full moons during the month of May, some countries (including Sri Lanka, Cambodia and Malaysia) celebrate Vesak on the first full moon, while others (Thailand, Singapore) celebrate the holiday on the full moon of 4th lunar month. The difference also manifests in the observance of other Buddhist holidays, which are traditionally observed at the local full moon.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Vesak festival: What is it and how do Buddhists celebrate Buddha Day or Wesak?|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/48106687|website=BBC|archive-date=23 May 2021|access-date=6 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210523223927/https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/48106687|url-status=live}}</ref>

On Vesak, devout Buddhists and followers alike assemble in their various temples before dawn for the ceremonial and honorable hoisting of the [[Buddhist flag]] and the singing of hymns in praise of the holy [[Refuge (Buddhism)|triple gem]]: The [[Gautama Buddha|Buddha]], The [[Dharma (Buddhism)|Dharma]] (his teachings), and The [[Sangha (Buddhism)|Sangha]] (his disciples). Devotees may bring simple offerings of flowers, candles and [[joss-sticks]] to lay at the feet of their teacher. These symbolic offerings are to remind followers that just as the beautiful flowers would wither away after a short while, and the candles and joss-sticks would soon burn out, so too is life subject to decay and destruction. Devotees are enjoined to make a special effort to refrain from killing of any kind. They are encouraged to partake only of vegetarian food for the day. In some countries, notably Sri Lanka, two days are set aside for the celebration of Vesak, and all liquor shops and slaughter houses are closed by government decree during the two days.

Also birds, insects and animals are released by the thousands in what is known as [[life release]] to give freedom to those who are in captivity, imprisoned, or tortured against their will. (The practice, however, is [[Criminal law of Singapore|banned in some countries such as Singapore]], as the released animals are unable to survive long-term or may adversely impact the local ecosystem if they do.)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tnp.straitstimes.com/news/singapore-news/vesak-day-practice-releasing-animals-harms-ecosystems|title=Vesak Day practice of releasing animals harms ecosystems|date=22 May 2016|access-date=17 February 2023|archive-date=9 December 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241209021406/https://tnp.straitstimes.com/news/singapore-news/vesak-day-practice-releasing-animals-harms-ecosystems|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Some devout Buddhists will wear simple white clothing and spend the whole day in temples with renewed determination to observe the [[eight precepts]].
[[File:WesakDay.jpg|thumb|150px|Young novice monk on Vesak Day Parade]]

Devout Buddhists undertake to lead a noble life according to the teaching by making daily affirmations to observe the [[Five Precepts]]. However, on special days, notably new moon and full moon days, they observe the eight precepts to train themselves to practice morality, simplicity, and humility.

Some temples also display a small statue of the Buddha in front of the altar in a small basin decorated with flowers, and filled with water or sweet tea for devotees to pour over the statue. This is symbolic of the cleansing of a practitioner's bad karma, and to reenact the events following the Buddha's birth, when [[Deva (Buddhism)|devas]] and spirits made heavenly offerings to him.

Devotees are expected to listen to talks given by monks. On this day, monks will recite verses uttered by the Buddha twenty-five centuries ago to invoke peace and happiness for the government and the people. Buddhists are reminded to live in harmony with people of other faiths and to respect the beliefs of other people as the Buddha taught.

===Bringing happiness to others===
[[File:Korean Minute- Buddha's Birthday Festival.webm|thumb|Video Korean Buddhist monks perform ritual dances and music on Buddha's Birthday.]]
Celebrating Vesak also means making special efforts to bring happiness to the unfortunate like the aged, the disabled, and the sick. To this day, Buddhists will distribute gifts in the form of cash, or volunteering in various charitable homes throughout the country. Vesak is also a time for great joy and happiness, expressed not by pandering to one's appetites, but by concentrating on useful activities such as decorating and illuminating temples, or painting and creating exquisite scenes from the life of the Buddha for public dissemination. Devout Buddhists also vie with one another to provide refreshments and vegetarian food to followers who visit the temple to pay homage to the Enlightened One.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Bhaskar|first1=V.S.|title=Faith & Philosophy of Buddhism|date=2009|publisher=Kalpaz Publishing|isbn=978-8178357225|pages=322}}</ref>{{citation needed|date=May 2013}}

===Paying homage to the Buddha===
According to tradition the Buddha instructed followers how to pay him homage. Just before he died, he saw his faithful attendant [[Ananda]], weeping. The Buddha advised him not to weep, instead to understand the universal law that all [[Dependent origination|compounded things]] (including even his own body) must disintegrate. He advised everyone not to cry over the disintegration of the physical body but to regard his teachings (The Dharma) as their teacher from then on, because only the truth of the Dhamma is eternal, and not subject to the law of change. He also stressed that the way to pay homage to him was not merely by offering flowers, incense, and lights, but by truly and sincerely striving to follow his teachings.

===Dates of observance===
The exact date of Vesak is based on Asian [[lunisolar calendar]]s and is primarily celebrated in [[Vaisakha]], a month of both the [[Buddhist calendar|Buddhist]] and [[Hindu calendar]]s, hence the name Vesak. In Nepal, which is considered the birth-country of Buddha, it is celebrated on the full moon day of the [[Vaisakha]] month of the [[Hindu calendar]], and is traditionally called Buddha Purnima, Purnima meaning the full moon day in Sanskrit. In Theravada countries following the [[Buddhist calendar]], it falls on Uposatha Day, the full moon typically in the 5th or 6th lunar month.

Nowadays, in Sri Lanka, Nepal, India, Bangladesh and Malaysia, Vesak/Buddha Purnima is celebrated on the day of the first full moon in May in the Gregorian calendar.

For countries using the lunisolar calendar, the date for Vesak or Buddha's Birthday varies from year to year in the Gregorian calendar, but usually falls in April or May; in leap years it may be celebrated in June. In Bhutan it is celebrated on the 15th day of the fourth month of the Bhutanese lunar calendar. In Thailand, Laos, Singapore and Indonesia, Vesak is celebrated on the fourteenth or fifteenth day of the fourth month in the Chinese lunar calendar. In China, Korea, Vietnam and the Philippines, [[Buddha's Birthday]] is celebrated on the eighth day of the fourth month in the Chinese lunar calendar. In Japan, Buddha's Birthday is observed on the same date but in the Gregorian calendar, i.e. 8 April.

In Myanmar, Buddha's Birthday is celebrated as '''Full Moon of Kasun''' and is a public holiday. It is celebrated by watering the Bodhi tree and chanting. In large pagodas, music and dance is also performed as part of the celebrations.

=== In Southeast Asia ===


====In Thailand====
[[File:Bangkok Vesak - 2017-05-07 (009).jpg|thumb|The people celebrate ritual of Vesak Day (Visakha Bucha Day) at [[Huamark Indoor Stadium]] in [[Bangkok]], Thailand.]]
In Thailand, Vesak is known as '''Visakha Bucha Day''' and is widely considered the most sacred Buddhist holiday in the country. It commemorates three major events in the life of the Buddha—his birth, enlightenment, and passing ([[Nirvana]])—which are all believed to have occurred on the full moon of the sixth lunar month. As a national public holiday, the day is marked by a peaceful and reverent atmosphere, with a nationwide ban on alcohol sales to encourage respectful observance. Devotees often dress in white to symbolize purity and visit local temples ([[wat]]s) starting at dawn to make merit by offering food, candles, and incense to monks. Each of the three circuits symbolizes one of the Three Jewels of Buddhism: the Buddha, the [[Dharma]] (his teachings), and the [[Sangha]] (the monastic community). Beyond temple rituals, many Thais practice kindness and compassion by making charitable donations to the less fortunate or releasing captive birds and fish to earn merit and eliminate negative karma.<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.thailandnow.in.th/event/visakha-bucha-day/ |access-date=8 April 2026 |title = Visakha Bucha Day 2026}}</ref>

The day's spiritual activities culminate in a beautiful evening ritual known as ''Wian Tian''. During this ceremony, worshippers participate in a candlelight procession, walking clockwise three times around a temple’s main chapel or ordination hall.<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://thethaiger.com/travel/guides-travel/makha-bucha-day-2026 |access-date=8 April 2026 |title = Makha Bucha Day 2026: What is it and why is it observed in Thailand?}}</ref>

====In Laos====
[[File:Luang Prabang Monks Alm Dawn 01.jpg|thumb|During Vesak, people give alms to monks (in the form of sticky rice) at dawn, in [[Luang Prabang]], north Laos]]
In [[Laos|Laos]], the festival is known as '''Visakha Bouxa'''. It commemorates the [[birth]], [[Bodhi|enlightenment]], and [[death]] of the [[Gautama Buddha|Buddha]], which are all said to have happened on the same date. It is held around the month of May or ''Vesak'', based on the lunar calendar. Celebrations include [[Dance and Theater of Laos|dances]], [[poetry|poems]], [[parade]]s, [[procession]]s, [[meditation|deep meditation]], [[Dance and Theater of Laos|theatrical performances]], and [[puppet show]]s.

One part of the Visakha Bouxa festival in Laos they called '''Boun Bang Fay''', or [[Rocket Festival]]. As this occurs during the hottest and driest season of the year, large homemade [[firework|rocket]]s are launched into the sky in an attempt to convince the celestial beings to send down [[rain]]. Traditionally, Buddhist [[monks]] made the rockets out of hollow bamboo tubes filled with [[gunpowder]] (among other things). Nowadays, lay people make the ''bang fai'' more like [[fireworks]] and hold competitions for the highest, fastest and most colorful rockets. The event takes place on both sides of the Mekhong River border between Thailand and the Lao People's Democratic Republic, and sometimes teams from the neighbouring countries will compete against each other. Tourists travel long distances to witness this now popular event.

====In Indonesia====
[[File:Borobudur on Vesak Day 2011.jpg|thumb|upright|Vesak Day celebration in [[Borobudur temple]], Indonesia]]
This significant and traditional holy day is observed throughout Indonesia, where it is known as Waisak Day.<ref name="Malik2007">{{cite book|author=Akhtar Malik|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=E5EkAQAAIAAJ|title=Survey of Buddhist Temples and Monasteries|date=1 January 2007|publisher=Anmol Publications|isbn=978-81-261-3259-1|page=145}}</ref><ref name="Gupta2008">{{cite book|author=Sameer Das Gupta|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=H4ckAQAAIAAJ|title=Advanced history of Buddhism: monasteries and temples|date=1 January 2008|publisher=Cyber Tech Publications|page=145|isbn = 9788178843438}}</ref> At [[Borobudur]], thousands of Buddhist monks will join to repeat mantras and meditate as they circuit the temple in a ritual called "Pradaksina". This is a form of tribute to the temple. Monks celebrate the special day by bottling holy water (which symbolises humility) and transporting flames (which symbolize light and enlightenment) from location to location. The monks also take part in the "Pindapata"<ref>{{Cite web|last=Meditation|first=Filed under|date=2011-10-18|title=The custom of Pindapatha|url=https://www.dhammikaweb.com/?p=11199|access-date=2021-09-12|website=Dhammikaweb|language=en-US|archive-date=12 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210912170215/https://www.dhammikaweb.com/?p=11199|url-status=dead}}</ref> ritual, where they receive charity from the people of Indonesia. Waisak Day in Indonesia has been celebrated as a national public holiday every year since 1983.{{citation needed |reason=law reenactment? |date=May 2025}}

====In Malaysia====
[[File:Wesak at Mara Vihara.jpg|thumb|People thronged to the Maha Vihara Buddhist Temple during the Wesak Day celebration in [[Kuala Lumpur]], [[Malaysia]].]]

Celebrated by Buddhists to mark three momentous events in Buddha's life – his birth, enlightenment, and his departure from the human world, the Wesak celebration in Malaysia begins at dawn when devotees gather at Buddhist temples nationwide to meditate on the [[Eight Precepts]]. Donations – giving food to the needy and offerings of incense and joss sticks – and prayers are carried out. The sutras are chanted in unison by monks in saffron robes. The celebration is highlighted by a candle procession. Wesak Day in Malaysia is a national public holiday.<ref name="Kabinet Malaysia">{{cite web|url=https://www.kabinet.gov.my/storage/2024/11/1951_12_31_act369.pdf|title=Laws Of Malaysia, Act 369, Holidays Act 1951|website=kabinet.gov.my|access-date=20 September 2025|archive-date=20 September 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250920012532/https://www.kabinet.gov.my/storage/2024/11/1951_12_31_act369.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== In Myanmar (Burma) ====
[[File:Buddha Day 02.jpg|thumb|Burmese Buddhist devotees traditionally water [[Bodhi Tree|Bodhi trees]] to mark Vesak.]]
[[File:Buddha Day.jpg|thumb|Burmese Buddhist devotees converge on a Bodhi tree in preparation for watering.]]
In [[Myanmar]] (Burma), Vesak is known as the Full Moon Day of [[Kason]] (ကဆုန်လပြည့် ဗုဒ္ဓနေ့), which is the second month in the traditional [[Burmese calendar]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|last=Khin Maung Nyunt|date=2019-05-18|title=Full moon day of Kasone: Buddha Day|work=The Global New Light of Myanmar|url=https://www.globalnewlightofmyanmar.com/full-moon-day-of-kasone-buddha-day/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190519205657/http://www.globalnewlightofmyanmar.com/full-moon-day-of-kasone-buddha-day/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=19 May 2019}}</ref> The date is a public gazetted holiday. Buddhist devotees typically celebrate by offering alms to Buddhist monks, adhering to a more stringent set of Buddhist precepts, practicing meditation, and freeing fish and birds from captivity.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Full moon day of Kason|url=https://www.mmtimes.com/lifestyle/20409-full-moon-day-of-kason.html|date=2016-05-20|website=The Myanmar Times|access-date=2020-05-24|archive-date=6 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210206142847/https://www.mmtimes.com/lifestyle/20409-full-moon-day-of-kason.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Throughout the country, the date is also marked by a traditional festival called the ''Nyaungye-thun'' or "Bodhi tree water pouring festival" ({{interlanguage link|ညောင်ရေသွန်းပွဲ|my}}), whereby devotees visit [[Burmese pagoda|pagodas]] or monasteries ([[kyaung]]) to pour scented water to sacred [[Bodhi Tree]]s using clay pots,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Stay at home day of Kasone|url=https://www.mmtimes.com/news/stay-home-day-kasone.html|date=2020-05-05|website=The Myanmar Times|access-date=2020-05-24|archive-date=19 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210719123724/https://www.mmtimes.com/news/stay-home-day-kasone.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> to ensure the trees, which hold great significance in Buddhism, do not die during the peak of summer.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=Full moon day of Kason|url=https://yangonlife.com.mm/en/article/full-moon-day-kason-0|website=Yangon Life|language=en|access-date=2020-05-24|archive-date=11 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181011222022/http://yangonlife.com.mm/en/article/full-moon-day-kason-0|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Ye Ye Myint|date=2019-05-19|title=Buddha Day, Full Moon Day of Kason celebrated across Myanmar|work=Myanmar News Agency|url=https://www.globalnewlightofmyanmar.com/buddha-day-full-moon-day-of-kason-celebrated-across-myanmar/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190520224915/http://www.globalnewlightofmyanmar.com/buddha-day-full-moon-day-of-kason-celebrated-across-myanmar/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=20 May 2019}}</ref>

This tradition dates back to the pre-colonial era and continues to take place at major pagodas such as the Shwekyetyet and Shwekyetkya Pagodas in the former royal capital of [[Amarapura]].<ref name=":0" /> A [[Konbaung era]] court poet, [[Letwe Thondara]] composed a complete set of [[Yadu (poetry)|''yadu'']] poems describing this festival in Meza Hill, near [[Katha, Myanmar|Katha]], where he had been exiled by King [[Hsinbyushin]].<ref name=":0" />

====In the Philippines====
In the [[Philippines]], the date of Vesak (known as ''Araw ni Buddha'') follows the [[Chinese lunar calendar]]. Like China and Japan, Filipinos also bathe statues on this day.<ref name="Philippines">{{Cite book |title=Chinese Buddhism in Catholic Philippines: Syncretism as Identity|author=Ari C. Dy|publisher=Anvil|year=2015|isbn=9789712731600|pages=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=2022 INTERNATIONAL DAY OF VESAK|url=https://www.un.int/philippines/statements_speeches/2022-international-day-vesak|website=United Nations|access-date=13 May 2022}}</ref>

====In Singapore====
In Singapore, Vesak Day was made a public holiday in 1955 after many public petitions, replacing [[Whit Monday]].<ref name="Ong2005">{{cite book|author=Y. D. Ong|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=foIkAQAAIAAJ|title=Buddhism in Singapore: A Short Narrative History|date=1 January 2005|publisher=Skylark Publications|isbn=978-981-05-2740-2|page=206}}</ref><ref name="Piyasīlo1992">{{cite book|author=Piyasīlo|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cWADAQAAIAAJ|title=New Directions in Buddhism Today: Celebrating 30 Years of the Buddha Day Holidays, 1962-1992|publisher=Community of Dharmafarers|year=1992|isbn=978-983-9030-03-7|page=6}}</ref><ref name="LimLee2016">{{cite book|author1=Jason Lim|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uks9DAAAQBAJ&pg=PA147|title=Singapore: Negotiating State and Society, 1965-2015|author2=Terence Lee|date=26 May 2016|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-317-33152-0|pages=147}}</ref> In the early decades of the 20th century, Vesak Day was associated with the Ceylonese community, which then celebrated it along with their National Day in a two-day event. After World War II, there was a movement to make Vesak Day a public holiday, with the Singapore Buddhist Association leading the petitions.<ref>{{cite news|title=Vesak Day: 5 things you should know about this Buddhist celebration|url=http://www.straitstimes.com/news/singapore/more-singapore-stories/story/5-things-about-vesak-day-20140512|newspaper=The Straits Times|date=12 May 2014|archive-date=22 May 2015|access-date=30 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150522000051/http://www.straitstimes.com/news/singapore/more-singapore-stories/story/5-things-about-vesak-day-20140512|url-status=live}}</ref>

====In Vietnam====
{{see also|Huế Phật Đản shootings}} 
In Vietnam, Vesak is also known as {{Lang|vi|Phật Đản}}. From 1958 to 1975, Vesak was a national public holiday in South Vietnam.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://quangduc.com/lichsu/13nienbieupgvn3.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121115000946/http://quangduc.com/lichsu/13nienbieupgvn3.html|url-status=dead|title=Niên biểu lịch sử Phật giáo Việt Nam|archive-date=15 November 2012}}</ref> It was a public festival with floats, and lantern parades on the streets. Under the President [[Ngô Đình Diệm]], a member of [[Roman Catholicism in Vietnam|Vietnam's Catholic minority]], South Vietnamese Buddhists were not allowed to celebrate Vesak, and faced many other restrictions. 

On 8 May 1963, the day of Vesak in Vietnam, more than 3000 Vietnamese Buddhists were protesting President Diệm's ban on the Buddhist flag in the city of [[Huế]]. Tensions rose throughout the day, and as protesters gathered around a government radio station, the Vietnamese army and police were called in to disperse the crowd. Soon after, the army started to shoot and throw grenades into the crowd. Nine were killed, and four were seriously injured.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Moise |first=E. |date=2007-09-01 |title=Cold War Mandarin: Ngo Dinh Diem and the Origins of America's War in Vietnam, 1950-1963. By Seth Jacobs. (Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield, 2006. xii, 207 pp. Cloth, $65.00, ISBN 978-0-7425-4447-5. Paper, $19.95, ISBN 978-0-7425-4448-2.) |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/25095096 |journal=Journal of American History |volume=94 |issue=2 |pages=641–642 |doi=10.2307/25095096 |jstor=25095096 |issn=0021-8723|url-access=subscription }}</ref> These events are considered to be the beginning of Vietnam's [[Buddhist crisis]], which culminated in a governmental coup and the assassination of President Diệm. Successive South Vietnamese Governments recognized Vesak as a public holiday and allowed the celebrations to go on.

However, after the [[Fall of Saigon]], the day was no longer a public holiday. Since the 2000s, the festival has witnessed a revival across the country.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://vietnamnews.vn/society/518892/ha-nam-province-to-host-vesak-2019.html|title=Hà Nam Province to host Vesak 2019|website=vietnamnews.vn}}</ref> The Vesak Celebration is officially held by the Vietnamese Buddhist Sangha every year and it aggregated international delegates for great events in 2008, 2014, 2019 (the 16th United Nations Day of Vesak Celebration).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.undv2019vietnam.com/en|title=The 16th United Nations Day of Vesak Celebrations 2019|website=The 16th United Nations Day of Vesak Celebrations 2019|access-date=29 May 2019|archive-date=19 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210719123725/http://www.undv2019vietnam.com/en|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== In South Asia ===

====In Nepal====
Vesak, commonly known in [[Nepal]] as "Buddha Jayanti" is widely celebrated all across the country, predominantly, [[Lumbini]] – the birthplace of Buddha, and [[Swayambhunath|Swayambhu]] – the holy temple for Buddhists, also known as "the Monkey Temple". The main door of [[Swayambhunath|Swayambhu]] is opened only on this very day, therefore, people from all over Kathmandu valley are stimulated by the event. Thousands of pilgrims from various parts of the world come together to celebrate Buddha's birthday at his birthplace, [[Lumbini]]. In [[Nepal]], Buddha is worshipped by all religious groups, therefore "Buddha Jayanti" is marked by a public holiday. People donate foods and clothes to the needy and also provide financial aid to monasteries and schools where Buddhism is taught and practised.

====In Sri Lanka====
[[File:Maharagama Vesak Pandol 2023 - මහරගම වෙසක් තොරණ 2023.jpg|thumb|Vesak Pandol (Thorana) in [[Maharagama]], Sri Lanka (2023)]]

Vesak is celebrated as a religious and a cultural festival in [[Sri Lanka]] on the full moon of the lunar month of Vesak (usually in the Gregorian month of May), for about one week, and this festival is often celebrated by people of different religions, as [[Buddhism]] is the religion of the majority of people in Sri Lanka.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://archives1.sundayobserver.lk/2018/04/29/spectrum/unifying-spiritual-and-secular|title=Unifying the Spiritual and The secular|date=27 April 2018|work=Sunday Observer|access-date=29 April 2018|language=en}}</ref> During this week, the selling of alcohol and fresh meat is usually prohibited, with slaughter houses also being closed.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://us.lakpura.com/pages/vesak|title=Vesak - 【Lakpura™】|website=lakpura.com}}</ref> Celebrations include religious and alms-giving activities. Electrically lit [[pandal]]s called ''thoranas'' are erected in locations mainly in Colombo, Kandy, Galle and elsewhere, most sponsored by donors, religious societies and welfare groups. Each pandal illustrates a story from the [[Jataka tales]]. Pandols (Thoranas) are electrically lit in almost all parts of the country, over 300 can be found all around the country every year. 

In addition, colorful lanterns called ''"Vesak kuudu"''<ref>{{Cite web|date=2014-05-01|title=How to make a Vesak lantern kudu – Best 10 tutorials|url=https://studentlanka.com/2014/05/01/how-to-make-a-vesak-wesak-lantern-kudu-best-10-tutorials/|access-date=2021-09-12|website=Student Sri Lanka Education|language=en-US|archive-date=12 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210912163219/https://studentlanka.com/2014/05/01/how-to-make-a-vesak-wesak-lantern-kudu-best-10-tutorials/|url-status=dead}}</ref> are hung along streets and in front of homes. They signify the light of the Buddha, Dharma and the Sangha. Food stalls set up by Buddhist devotees called "''dansälas"'' provide free food, ice-cream and drinks to passersby.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://lk.lakpura.com/pages/vesak|title=Vesak Festival in Sri Lanka|website=lanka.com|language=en-US|access-date=29 April 2018}}</ref> Groups of people from community organizations, businesses and government departments sing ''bhakti gee'' (Buddhist devotional songs). Colombo experiences a massive influx of people from all parts of the country during this week.

====In India====
[[File:2600 Sambuddhatva jayanthi in Jetavana 02.jpg|thumb|Vesak is celebrated in [[Jetavana]], India, 2011.]]
In India, the full moon day of the [[Vaisakha]] month of the [[Hindu calendar]] is celebrated as Buddha Purnima.<ref name="HT"/> The festival is commonly known as [[Buddha's Birthday|Buddha Purnima]], as Purnima means full moon day in Sanskrit and Hindi languages.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Buddha Purnima 2025: এবারের বুদ্ধ পূর্ণিমা, যুদ্ধের আবহে পশ্চিমবঙ্গ, ত্রিপুরা, অসম ও বাংলাদেশে কীভাবে উদযাপিত হবে? |url=https://bengali.indianexpress.com/lifestyle/buddha-purnima-2025-celebrations-across-west-bengal-tripura-assam-bangladesh-9053608#amp_tf=From%20%251$s&aoh=17469379297777&referrer=https://www.google.com |access-date=2025-05-11 |work=The Indian Express |language=bn}}</ref> It is also called Buddha Jayanti, with Jayanti meaning birthday in [[Sanskrit]]. The festival is a public holiday in India.<ref name="HT"/>

====In Bangladesh====

Vesak Day is an important festival for all [[Bengali Buddhists]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=Mongol Shobhajatra on Buddha Purnima |url=https://bdnews24.com/media-en/image/54b166595c7f |access-date=2025-05-11 |website=bdnews24.com |language=en}}</ref>  In Bangladesh, it is celebrated in [[Chittagong]], [[Dhaka]], and other Buddhist regions like [[Bandarban]], [[Khagrachhari]], [[Rangamati]] in the country.<ref>{{Cite news |script-title=bn:বুদ্ধ পূর্ণিমায় রাঙ্গামাটিতে শোভাযাত্রা, শান্তি কামনা {{!}} বাংলাদেশ |url=https://www.somoynews.tv/news/2025-05-10/0PWCttPS |access-date=2025-05-11 |work=Somoy News |language=bn}}</ref> In the Bangla language, it is known as Buddho Purnima. It is also a public holiday in Bangladesh.<ref>{{Cite news |script-title=bn:আজ বুদ্ধ পূর্ণিমা |url=https://dailyinqilab.com/national/article/760979 |access-date=2025-05-11 |website=Daily Inqilab |language=bn}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Buddha Purnima today |url=https://www.risingbd.com/english/national/news/112270 |access-date=2025-05-11 |work=Risingbd.com |language=en}}</ref>

=== In East Asia ===

====In Japan====
In [[Japan]], Vesak or {{nihongo||花祭|hanamatsuri}} is also known as {{nihongo||灌仏会|Kanbutsu'e}}, {{nihongo||降誕会|Gōtan'e}}), {{nihongo||仏生会|Busshō'e}}, {{nihongo||浴仏会|Yokubutsu'e}}, {{Nihongo||龍華会|Ryūge'e}} and {{nihongo||花会式|Hanaeshiki}}. It is not a public holiday. It is based on a legend that nine dragons appeared in the sky on the Buddha's birthday and poured [[amṛta]] over him.<ref>「年中行事事典」p242 1958年（昭和33年）5月23日初版発行　西角井正慶編　東京堂出版</ref>

It used to be celebrated on the 8th day of the 4th month in the [[Chinese calendar]] based on one of the legends that proclaims the day as Buddha's birthday. At present, the celebration is observed on 8 April of the Solar Calendar since the [[government of Meiji Japan]] adopted the western solar calendar as the official calendar. Since the 8th day of the 4th month in the lunar calendar commonly falls in May of the current solar calendar, it is now celebrated about a month earlier.

In Japan, Vesak celebrations include pouring {{nihongo||甘茶|amacha}}, a sweet tea made from ''[[Hydrangea macrophylla]]'', on statues. In Buddhist religious sites such as temples and [[vihara]]s, more involved ceremonies are conducted for lay Buddhists, priests, and monks and nuns.

====In South Korea====
<!-- "Merit§Merit-making in Buddhist societies" links here -->
[[File:KOCIS Korea YeonDeungHoe 20130511 05 (8733836165).jpg|thumb|Lotus Lantern Festival (연등회, [[Yeondeunghoe|Yeon Deung Hoe]]) in [[Seoul]], South Korea]]
In [[South Korea]] the [[Buddha's Birthday|birthday of Buddha]] is celebrated on the 8th day of the 4th month in the [[Korean calendar|Korean lunar calendar]] (as well as in [[Hong Kong]], [[Macau]]) and is an official holiday. This day is called {{lang|ko|석가탄신일}} (Seokga tansinil), meaning "Buddha's birthday" or {{lang|ko|부처님 오신 날}} (Bucheonim osin nal) meaning "the day when the Buddha came". It has now grown into one of the nation's biggest cultural festivals. Lotus lanterns cover the entire temple throughout the month which are often flooded down the street.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.korea.net/|title=Korea.net|website=Korea.net|access-date=2 May 2015|archive-date=19 June 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100619204156/http://korea.net/|url-status=live}}</ref> On the day of Buddha's birth, many temples provide free meals and tea to all visitors. The breakfast and lunch provided are often sanchae [[bibimbap]].

[[Yeondeunghoe]] (연등회) is a lantern-lighting festival in Korea celebrating the [[Buddha's Birthday]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Yeondeunghoe, lantern lighting festival in the Republic of Korea|url=https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/yeondeunghoe-lantern-lighting-festival-in-the-republic-of-korea-00882|access-date=|website=|archive-date=25 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210625025450/https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/yeondeunghoe-lantern-lighting-festival-in-the-republic-of-korea-00882|url-status=live}}</ref> It is inscribed in [[UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists|UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List]] from 2020 and enlisted as [[Intangible Cultural Property (South Korea)|South Korean Intangible Cultural Property]] from 2012.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Herald|first=The Korea|date=2020-12-16|title=South Korea's lotus lantern lighting festival inscribed as UNESCO world heritage|url=http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20201216000210|access-date=2021-02-11|website=www.koreaherald.com|language=en|archive-date=25 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225074859/http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20201216000210|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Outside Asia ===

====In Canada====
An annual event known as ''Vesak: Buddha's Birthday'' is celebrated in [[Toronto]] in its three major three Buddhist temples, that represent the three main branches of Buddhism.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vesakcelebration.com/|title=vesak celebration|website=vesak2014|access-date=26 July 2021|archive-date=30 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930213038/https://www.vesakcelebration.com/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Held at [[Mississauga|Mississauga Celebration Square]], it features a number of Buddhist-themed events and activities, as well as cultural acts from Asia, including China, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sumeru-books.com/tag/mississauga/ |title=Mississauga Archives - |access-date=8 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308150620/http://www.sumeru-books.com/tag/mississauga/ |archive-date=8 March 2016 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mississauga.com/news-story/4518929-buddhists-to-mark-buddha-s-birthday-at-celebration-square/|title=Buddhists to mark Buddha's birthday at Celebration Square|first=Nouman|last=Khalil|date=14 May 2014|website=Mississauga.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://culture.mississauga.ca/event/celebration-square/vesak-buddha%E2%80%99s-birthday-celebration|title=Vesak, Buddha's Birthday Celebration|date=11 April 2016|website=Mississauga Culture|access-date=26 July 2021|archive-date=27 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727053431/https://culture.mississauga.ca/event/celebration-square/vesak-buddha%E2%80%99s-birthday-celebration|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Vesak in Ottawa===
In May 2012, Visita Sirin Leelaratna organized a memorable Vesak celebration in Ottawa, the capital city of Canada. In commemoration of the Buddha's birth, enlightenment, and passing, the event aims to bring together Buddhist groups worldwide.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://hirunews.lk/en/456800/leelaratna-recognised-for-boosting-canadasri-lanka-heritage-entrepreneurship-ties |title=Leelaratna recognised for boosting Canada–Sri Lanka heritage, entrepreneurship ties |work=Hiru News |access-date=2025-05-17}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://hirunews.lk/en/423656/lankan-led-initiative-makes-ottawa-first-in-world-to-install-road-signs-for-buddhist-temples |title=Lankan-led Initiative makes Ottawa first in world to install road signs for Buddhist temples |work=Hiru News |access-date=2025-05-17}}</ref> The commemoration has grown over the years, incorporating noteworthy occasions such as the unveiling of the International Buddhist flag at Ottawa's City Hall and official proclamations from regional authorities.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://hirunews.lk/goldfmnews/436660/ottawa-mayor-honors-sri-lankan-buddhist-leader-sirin-leelaratna |title=Ottawa Mayor honors Sri Lankan Buddhist leader Sirin Leelaratna |work=Gold FM News / Hiru News |access-date=2025-05-17}}</ref>

With speeches from prominent figures, artistic performances, and community initiatives aimed at fostering peace and understanding, the Vesak in Ottawa event has grown over the years. Leelaratna led the successful effort to make Ottawa the first city worldwide to implement official road signage directing travelers to Buddhist temples. The brown wayfinding signs, featuring the dharma wheel (dharmachakra) symbol and bilingual text "Buddhist/Bouddhiste," were installed by the City of Ottawa, marking a significant milestone for Buddhist visibility and religious recognition within Canadian municipal infrastructure.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://hirunews.lk/en/423656/lankan-led-initiative-makes-ottawa-first-in-world-to-install-road-signs-for-buddhist-temples |title=Lankan-led Initiative makes Ottawa first in world to install road signs for Buddhist temples |work=Hiru News |access-date=2025-05-17}}</ref> Leelaratna, founder of Buddhist Embassy®, has advanced Vesak recognition in Canada through various initiatives, including advocacy for Buddhist Heritage Month.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://hirunews.lk/en/465446/buddhist-heritage-month-petition-tabled-in-canadian-parliament |title=Buddhist Heritage Month petition tabled in Canadian Parliament |work=Hiru News |access-date=2025-05-17}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ourcommons.ca/petitions/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-6893 |title=Petition e-6893 – Buddhist Heritage Month |publisher=House of Commons of Canada |access-date=2025-05-17}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://hirunews.lk/en/466007/YouTube |title=Buddhist Heritage Month – Video Report |work=Hiru News |access-date=2025-05-17}}</ref>


====In United States====
The celebration of Vesak or Buddha's Birthday in the United States differs among different Buddhist communities, depending on their ethnicity and nationality.

In [[Maui]], [[Hawaii]] the community is usually invited to celebrate Vesak Day (the birth of Buddha) on the full moon of [[Vaisakha]] at Chua Tu Hanh Buddhist Temple in Kahului, where there is guided sitting meditation and dharma talk by a Zen master; which is followed by the bathing ceremony of the baby Buddha and a joyful meal to end the evening.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mauinews.com/news/religion/2019/05/local-religion-in-brief-87/|title=Local Religion In Brief Birth of Buddha to be celebrated|date=17 May 2019}}</ref>
The state of [[Hawaii]] has officially recognized April 8 of each year as "Buddha Day", which celebrates the birth of [[Gautama Buddha]].

In the [[Bay Area]] of [[California]], the Japanese celebration on April 8 has also been significant for several decades. In 1968 the first [[circumambulation]] of Mt. Tamalpais to celebrate Buddha's Birthday was conducted. Starting in 1969 at [[Tassajara Zen Mountain Center]], ''Hana-Matsuri (花ーまつり - flower festival)'' was celebrated each spring. Dressed in formal black robes, the roughly 70 monks and students form a formal procession to the Horse Pasture with the leader periodically ringing a small, clear bell. A temporary stone altar was built under a huge oak tree in a gorgeous field of green grass and abundant wildflowers; a small statue of a baby Buddha was placed upon it in a metal basin. Then each person, in turn, approaches the altar, and ladle one thin-lipped bamboo dipperful of sweet green tea over the statue, bow, and walk to one side.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.japanese-city.com/calendar/events/index.php?eID=32066|title=2014 Hanamatsuri Bazaar - Japanese and Buddhist Cultural Festival (2 Days) &#124; Japanese-City.com|website=www.japanese-city.com|access-date=26 July 2021|archive-date=26 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726045539/https://www.japanese-city.com/calendar/events/index.php?eID=32066|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[New York City|New York]] celebrates the ''International Lotus Lantern Parade'', an annual event held at [[Union Square Park]]. The event celebrates the Buddha's birthday and ''Yeon Deung Hoe'' (연등회,燃燈會), a Korean lantern celebration that is held during ''Vesak''. The festival features a number of Buddhist themed events and is started off by numerous Buddhist centers of Japanese, Korean and Sri Lankan origins for example.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://interfaithcenter.org/archives/5318|title=The 25th International Lotus Lantern Parade for the Celebration of Buddha's Birthday! &#124; ICNY|website=interfaithcenter.org|access-date=26 July 2021|archive-date=21 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160521093615/http://interfaithcenter.org/archives/5318|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==United Nations==
On 15 December 1999 the [[United Nations]] [[General Assembly]] adopted resolution 54/115, entitled 'International recognition of the Day of Vesak at [[Headquarters of the United Nations|United Nations Headquarters]] and other United Nations offices'. The proposal to declare Vesak as an international public holiday was tabled at the United Nations General Assembly by Sri Lanka. The resolution internationally recognized the Day of Vesak to acknowledge the contributions that The Buddha and Buddhism have made for over two and a half millennia. It also called for annual commemoration of the day at the United Nations Headquarters, in New York, UNESCO and other United Nations offices around the world.<ref>{{cite news|title=Buddha's message of compassion 'timeless' says UN chief on international day|url=https://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=56719|access-date=11 May 2017|work=UN News Service |publisher=United Nations|date=10 May 2017|archive-date=19 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210719123734/https://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=56719|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=International recognition of the Day of Vesak at United Nations Headquarters and other United Nations offices|url=https://www.un.org/en/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/RES/54/115|website=www.un.org|publisher=United Nations|access-date=11 May 2017|archive-date=9 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210609013859/https://www.un.org/en/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/RES/54/115|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>Mahinda Deegalle. 2018. ''Vesak, Peace and Harmony: Thinking of Buddhist Heritage. Kandy: Research Centre for Buddhist Studies''.</ref>

International celebrations since 2000 included the first Vesak celebration in the United Nations (New York) on May 15, 2000. Thirty-four countries were represented.<ref name="Mahinda Deegalle 2018">Mahinda Deegalle. 2018. ''Vesak, Peace and Harmony: Thinking of Buddhist Heritage, ch. 1''.</ref> The Day of Vesak is an official holiday for the United Nations offices in many of the countries in Southeast Asia.

===International Vesak summit===
Thailand has hosted an international Vesak summit 11 times, Vietnam 3 times, and Sri Lanka once.
*May 25, 2004 in [[Phutthamonthon]], Thailand<ref name="Mahinda Deegalle 2018"/>
*May 18–21, 2005 in [[Bangkok]], Thailand<ref name="Mahinda Deegalle 2018"/> 
*2006 to 2013 in Thailand 
*2014 in Vietnam<ref name="Mahinda Deegalle 2018"/> 
*2015 in Thailand<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.undv.org/vesak2015/en/ |title=Vesak 2015 |access-date=1 August 2021 |archive-date=12 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180512044311/http://www.undv.org/vesak2015/en/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
*2016 in Thailand<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.undv.org/vesak2016/ | title=Vesak 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180803151359/http://www.undv.org/vesak2016/ |archive-date=3 August 2018 }}</ref>
*2017 in Sri Lanka<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.unvesak2017.org/ |title=unvesak2017.org |access-date=1 August 2021 |archive-date=30 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210930092759/http://www.unvesak2017.org/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
*2018 in Thailand
*2019 in Vietnam
*2024 in Thailand

== Local renditions ==
There are multiple local renditions of the Vesak festival name, varying by local language, including:
* {{langx|as|বুদ্ধ পূর্ণিমা}} ''Buddho Purnima''
* {{langx|bn|বুদ্ধ পূর্ণিমা}} ''Buddho Purnima'', {{lang|bn|বুদ্ধ জয়ন্তী}} ''Buddho Joyonti''
* {{langx|my|ကဆုန်လပြည့် ဗုဒ္ဓနေ့}} ''Kasonelapyany Buddhanae'', "Full Moon Day of Kason"
* {{langx|ceb|Adlaw sa Buddha}} (''Buddha's Day'')
* {{zh|c=佛陀誕辰紀念日|p=Fótuó dànchén jìniàn rì}}, (Buddha's Birthday or Birthday of the Gautama Buddha), 佛誕 (''Fódàn'', Birthday of the Buddha), 浴佛節 (''Yùfójié'', Occasion of Bathing the Buddha), 衛塞節 (''Wèisāi jié'' Vesak Day), 偉大的衛塞節花節偉大的滿月 (''Wěidà de wèi sāi jié huā jié wěidà de mǎnyuè'' Great Vesak Day Flower Festival Full Moon of Flower Moon) 
* {{langx|dz|<big>སྟོན་པའི་དུས་ཆེན་༥ འཛོམས་</big>}} ''Dhüchen Nga Zom''
* {{langx|fr|Vesak}}
* {{langx|el|Βεσάκ}}
* {{langx|hi|बुद्ध पूर्णिमा}} ''Buddha Pūrṇimā'', {{lang|hi|बुद्ध जयन्ती}} ''Buddha Jayantī'', {{lang|hi|वैशाख पूर्णिमा}} ''Vaisākh Pūrṇimā'' 
* {{langx|ilo|Aldaw ni Buddha}} (''Day of the Buddha'')
* {{langx|ja|花祭り}} ''Hanamatsuri'' (Flower Festival)
* {{langx|km|វិសាខបូជា}} ''Visak Bochea''
* {{langx|kn|ಬುದ್ಧ ಪೌರ್ಣಮಿ}} ''Buddha Pournami''
* {{korean|hangul=석가 탄신일|hanja=釋迦誕辰日|rr=Seokka Tanshin-il}} (Birthday of the Shakyamuni Buddha), {{langx|ko|부처님오신날}} (Buddha's Day)
* {{langx|lo|ວິສາຂະບູຊາ}} ''Visakha Bouxa''
* [[Malay language|Malay]]:
**''Hari Wesak'' (Jawi: {{script|Arab|هاري ويسک}}, [[Malaysian language|Malaysian]]) 
**''Hari Vesak'' ([[Singapore]]), 
**''Hari Waisak'' or ''Hari Raya Waisak'', Trisuci Waisak ([[Indonesian language|Indonesian]])<!-- using definition of Malay in a linguistic sense, see Nothofer, Bernd (2009). "Malay". In Brown, Keith; Ogilvie, Sarah (eds.). Concise Encyclopedia of Languages of the World p. 678 --> 
* {{langx|ml|വൈശാഖ പൗർണമി, ബുദ്ധ പൂർണിമ, ബുദ്ധ ജയന്തി}}
* [[Mon language|Mon]]: တ္ၚဲကျာ်ဗုဒ္ဓဂိတုပသာ်ပေၚ်
{{audio|LL-Q13349 (mnw)-Intobesa (咽頭べさ)-တ္ၚဲကျာ်ဗုဒ္ဓဂိတုပသာ်ပေၚ်.wav|listen}} "Full Moon Day of Pasāk"
* {{langx|mn|Бурхан Багшийн Их Дүйчин Өдөр}} {{MongolUnicode|ᠪᠤᠷᠬᠠᠨ<br />ᠪᠠᠭᠰᠢ ᠶ᠋ᠢᠨ<br />ᠶᠡᠬᠡ<br />ᠳᠦᠢᠴᠡᠩ<br />ᠡᠳᠦᠷ}} ''Burkhan Bagshiin Ikh Düichinn Ödör'' (Lord Buddha's Great Festival Day)
* {{langx|mr|बुद्ध पौर्णिमा}} ''Buddha Pournima'' 
* {{langx|ne|बुद्ध पुर्णिमा}} ''Buddha Purnima'', {{lang|ne|बुद्ध जयन्ति}} ''Buddha Jayanti''
* {{langx|new|स्वांया पुन्हि}} ''Swānyā Punhi'' 
* {{langx|or|ବୁଦ୍ଧ ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣିମା}} ''Buddha Purnimā''
* {{langx|ru|День рождения Гаутамы Будды}} ''Den' rozhdeniya Gautamy Buddy'' (Birthday of the [[Gautama Buddha]]), {{langx|ru|День Гаутамы Будды}} (''Den' Gautamy Buddy'' Gautama Buddha's Day), {{langx|ru|Великий День Цветов Весак}} (''Velikiy Den' Tsvetov Vesak'' Great Vesak Flower Day), {{langx|ru|День Весака}} (''Den' Vesaka'' Vesak Day), {{langx|ru|День Будды}} (''Den' Buddy'' Buddha's Day), {{langx|ru|Буддийское рождество}} (''Buddiyskoye rozhdestvo'' Buddhist [[Christmas]])
* {{langx|si|වෙසක්}} W''esak''
* {{langx|es|Día de vesak}}
* {{langx|ta|விசாகத் திருநாள்}} ''Vicākat Tirunāḷ''
* {{langx|tl|Araw ni Bisyak}}, Araw ni Buddha (''Buddha's Day''), Kaarawan ni Buddha (''Buddha's Birthday'')
* {{langx|te|బుద్ధ పౌర్ణమి}} ''Buddha Pournami'' or alternatively వైశాఖ పౌర్ణమి ''Vaisakha Pournami'' 
* {{langx|th|วิสาขบูชา}} {{RTGS|''Wisakhabucha''}}
* {{Bo|t=<big>ས་ག་ཟླ་བ་དུས་ཆེན</big>|w=sa ga zla ba dus chen|s=Sa Ga Dawa Dü Chen}}
* {{langx|vi|Lễ Phật Đản}}; [[Chữ Hán]]: 禮佛誕 (Birthday of the Buddha), {{langx|vi|Ngày hội hoa Phật}} (Buddha's Lord Flower Festival Day)

==See also==
* [[Asalha Puja]]
* [[Māgha Pūjā]]
* [[Buddha's Birthday]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Portal|Buddhism}}
* {{commons category-inline}}
* {{Wikiquote-inline}}
* [http://www.buddhanet.net/vesak.htm The Significance of Vesak – Buddha Day] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070219115054/http://www.buddhanet.net/vesak.htm |date=19 February 2007 }}
* [https://www.roots.gov.sg/en/ich-landing/ich/vesak-day Vesak Day - INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241110024806/https://www.roots.gov.sg/en/ich-landing/ich/vesak-day |date=10 November 2024 }}

{{Sri Lankan Buddhist Observances}}
{{Public holidays in Cambodia}}
{{Public holidays in Indonesia}}
{{Public holidays in Malaysia}}
{{Public holidays in Myanmar}}
{{Public holidays in Singapore}}
{{Public holidays in Sri Lanka}}
{{Public holidays in Thailand}}

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