Buddha Jayanti is festival to celebrate the birth date of Siddhartha Gautam Buddha. On this day people celebrate the life of Lord Buddha; his Birth, Enlightment and Death (Mahaparinirvana). Siddhartha Gautam Buddha was born in 543 BC in Kapilvastu (Lumbini). Siddhartha is a son of King Suddodhana and Queen Maya Devi. Buddha was born in Full moon day; he achieved nirvana and leaves the world on same day. Gautam Buddha is call as Shakyamuni. Buddha Jayanti is celebrate in the name of founder of Buddhism who is spiritual leader of Religion Buddhism.
People call Buddha Jayanti as Buddha Purnima.
Day of festival
This year Buddha purnima is on May 18, 2019 according to the Gregorian English Calendar. It is on 4th Jestha, 2076 (Saturday) according to the Nepali Bikram Sambat Calendar. In Nepal, Buddha Jayanti is special significance to many cause Nepal is birth place of Gautam Buddha. The festival is celebrate on the full moon day of “Baisakh”. The date varies by year.
Rituals
Buddha Jayanti is celebration of Buddhist teaching no kills (ahimsa) and non-violence. The Buddhism has five principles known as ‘Panchasheel’. On this day, Mahabodhi Temple is beautifully decorated and many special events are held.
There are certain rules in Buddha Jayanti. The Bodhi Tree is decorated with flowers and flags, lamps are lit with lights. Water and mil are showered in the root of trees. People offer food and cloth to the poor people. They free bird from cages. The followers of Buddha avoid meat in this day. They eat Kheer made up of rice and sweet milk. Followers try to do best kind for people.
How do we celebrate Buddha Jayanti?
Buddha Jayanti is celebrated heartly in Mahabodhi temple in Bodh Gaya, Patna in Bihar, Lumbini. Those are the places where Buddha got enlightment. It is celebrated in different Gumbas and stupas of different places. The stupas and monasteries are decorated with different flags and colors and lights. The Buddha Jayanti event includes celebration, prayer session, meditation, procession, sermons, and symposia. People offer the prayers to Lord Buddha and recite monks and listen. They offer fruit, candles, incense sticks to Lord Buddha. They faith into the five principles and follow them.
.The five Panchasheel are as below:
Not to:
- take anyone’s life
- thief anything
- lie to anyone
- consume liquor
- engage in adultery
The celebration includes different functions and processions. The monks give speech in the functions. They sing songs and sacred slogans.
Like wise, Buddha Jayanti is celebrated and enjoyed by Buddhist followers.
Buddha’s Four Noble Truth
- Life means suffering
- Origin of suffering is attachment
- The cessation of suffering is attainable
- The path to the cessation of suffering
The Noble Eightfold Path
Right:
- View
- Intention
- Speech
- Action
- Livelihood
- Effort
- Mindfulness
- Concentration
Buddha Mantra
बुद्धं शरणं गच्छामि। : Buddham saranam gachhami.
धर्मं शरणं गच्छामि। : Dharmam saranam gachhami.
संघं शरणं गच्छामि। : Sangham saranam gachhami.
Budddham saranam Gachhami
I go to under shelter of Buddha.
Dharman Sharanam Gachhami
I go to shelter of dharma.
Sangham Saranam Gachhami
I go to shelter of Shangha.