Buddha's Birthday honors the birth of Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism. The day is marked with temple ceremonies, incense offerings, and the symbolic "Bathing of the Buddha" ritual, where devotees pour water over Buddha statues to signify purification and renewal.

When is Buddha's Birthday?

Buddha's Birthday is celebrated in Macau on the eighth day of the fourth lunar month.

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

The History of Buddha's Birthday?

Buddha's Birthday is one of the most important Buddhist festivals in Macau, as well as throughout much of East Asia. It commemorates the birth of Prince Siddhartha Gautama, who later became Buddha Shakyamuni, the Enlightened One, founder of Buddhism.

The holiday's origins date back over 2,500 years to ancient India. According to Buddhist tradition, Siddhartha Gautama was born around 563 BCE in Lumbini (in present-day Nepal). His birth was accompanied by miraculous signs—lotus flowers blooming beneath his feet and heavenly beings celebrating his arrival. The festival spread across Asia as Buddhism expanded, taking root in China during the Han Dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE), where it became a day of devotion and moral reflection.

In Macau, where Chinese and Buddhist cultural traditions are deeply interwoven, the festival has long been observed with both solemnity and festivity. Temples such as Pou Tai Un, Lin Fung, and Kun Iam Temple host elaborate ceremonies, including the "Bathing of the Buddha" ritual. Devotees pour fragrant water over statues of the infant Buddha, symbolizing inner purification and the washing away of negative karma.

Buddha's Birthday in Macau is also marked by offerings of flowers, incense and vegetarian meals, alongside community service and prayers for peace and well-being. The festival reflects Macau's spiritual diversity and its enduring respect for compassion, mindfulness and harmony, values central to Buddhist philosophy.