Buddha's Birthday in Hong Kong honors the birth of Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism. It is a public holiday marked by ceremonies, temple visits, and the ritual of bathing the Buddha, symbolizing purity, compassion and spiritual renewal.

When is Buddha's Birthday?

Buddha's Birthday in Hong Kong is celebrated on the eighth day of the fourth lunar month every year.

The following is the list of Buddha's Birthday from 2020 to 2049.

The History of Buddha's Birthday?

Buddha's Birthday celebrates the birth of Siddhartha Gautama, who later became known as the Buddha, meaning "The Enlightened One". Siddhartha was born around 563 BCE in Lumbini (present-day Nepal), a prince who renounced his royal life in search of spiritual truth.

His teachings on compassion, mindfulness, and the path to enlightenment became the foundation of Buddhism, one of the world's major religions. Traditionally, Buddhists believe that Buddha's birth, enlightenment, and passing into nirvana all occurred on the same day — the eighth day of the fourth lunar month, which is when Buddha's Birthday is celebrated in Hong Kong and other parts of East Asia.

The commemoration of Buddha's birth began in India and spread across China, Korea, Japan, and Southeast Asia over centuries. Each culture developed its own customs.

In China, the celebration dates back to the Eastern Han dynasty (25–220 CE), when Buddhist temples were established and followers began to honor the Buddha's birth with offerings and rituals. This tradition traveled to Hong Kong through centuries of Chinese migration and cultural exchange, blending seamlessly with local practices.

Buddhism was introduced to Hong Kong during the 19th century, alongside waves of Chinese settlers from Guangdong province. By the late 1800s and early 1900s, Hong Kong had established several important Buddhist temples, which would later become one of the most prominent sites for Buddha's Birthday celebrations. Over time, Buddhism became one of the major religions in Hong Kong, practiced alongside Taoism, Confucianism, and Christianity.

Before the mid-1990s, Buddha's Birthday was widely celebrated by the Buddhist community but was not yet a public holiday in colonial Hong Kong. In 1997, the same year Hong Kong was handed over from Britain to China, the Hong Kong SAR Government officially recognized Buddha's Birthday as a public holiday, replacing the Queen's Birthday holiday. This change reflected Hong Kong's cultural and religious identity, acknowledging Buddhism's deep historical roots in Chinese society and its influence in the region.

Today, Buddha's Birthday is celebrated by both devout Buddhists and the general public as a day of reflection, compassion, and community. The most iconic ritual is the Bathing of the Buddha Ceremony, symbolizing inner purification and the washing away of ignorance and suffering. Many people also participate in volunteer activities or release captive animals (such as fish or birds) as a gesture of compassion, although animal release is increasingly replaced by eco-friendly practices.