Vesak(වෙසක්)

Vesak is observed on the full moon day of the month of Vesakha in the Buddhist calendar, typically falling in April or May in the Gregorian calendar. The exact date varies by country and Buddhist tradition.

Vesak (also known as Buddha Day, Buddha Purnima, or Visakha Bucha) is the most sacred Buddhist holiday. It commemorates three key events in the life of Gautama Buddha: his birth, his attainment of enlightenment, and his passing away (Parinirvana), all believed to have occurred on the same full moon day.

Vesak is celebrated in Sri Lanka, Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, South Korea, Japan, and India. It is the most important Buddhist holiday and is observed by approximately 500 million Buddhists worldwide.

Yes, Vesak is a public holiday in Sri Lanka, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and several other Buddhist-majority countries. The United Nations also observes an International Day of Vesak.

Vesak traditions include visiting temples to offer flowers, incense, and candles, listening to Buddhist teachings and chanting, releasing birds or fish as symbolic acts of liberation, meditating, performing acts of generosity, and illuminating towns with colorful lanterns. In Sri Lanka, Vesak lanterns and outdoor dioramas called 'thoranas' are iconic features.