Buddhism
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Duruthu Full Moon Poya Day
Duruthu Full Moon Poya commemorates the Buddha’s first visit to Sri Lanka at Mahiyangana, where he brought peace to the island. The day is marked by meditation, almsgiving, and the Duruthu Perahera at Kelaniya temple, making it one of the most important Buddhist festivals of the year.
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Navam Full Moon Poya Day
Navam Full Moon Poya commemorates the Buddha's appointment of his chief disciples Sariputta and Moggallana, and the establishment of the Vinaya (monastic code). In Sri Lanka, it is marked by religious observances and the grand Navam Perahera at Kelaniya temple, a spectacular cultural procession with monks, dancers, drummers and decorated elephants.
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Medin Full Moon Poya Day
Medin Full Moon Poya marks the Buddha’s first visit to his hometown Kapilavastu after Enlightenment, where he ordained his son Rahula as the first novice monk. In Sri Lanka, the day is observed with almsgiving, meditation, and novice ordination ceremonies, symbolizing the inheritance of the Dhamma.
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Makha Bucha Day Thailand
Makha Bucha Day is one of the most sacred and widely observed Buddhist holidays in Thailand, commemorating a pivotal moment in the life of the Buddha. While its spiritual origins date back over 2,500 years, its recognition as a public holiday in Thailand has a distinct historical development tied to royal religious reforms and the promotion of Buddhist unity.
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Bak Full Moon Poya Day
Bak Full Moon Poya commemorates the Buddha’s second visit to Sri Lanka in the 5th year after Enlightenment, when he settled a war between Naga kings Chulodara and Mahodara at Nagadipa. The event, recorded in the Mahavamsa, symbolizes peace and the Buddha’s role as peacemaker.
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Sinhala and Tamil New Year
The Sinhala and Tamil New Year marks the solar new year and the end of the harvest season in Sri Lanka. It symbolizes prosperity, renewal and cultural unity across Sinhalese Buddhists and Tamil Hindus.
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Vesak Full Moon Poya Day
Vesak Full Moon Poya, rooted in ancient India, commemorates the birth, Enlightenment, and passing away of the Buddha, all on the full moon of May. Introduced to Sri Lanka in the 3rd century BCE, it became the island's most sacred Buddhist festival. Today, Vesak is celebrated with temple rituals and almsgiving, symbolizing peace and the victory of wisdom over ignorance.
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Buddha's Birthday (South Korea)
Buddha’s Birthday originated in India, spread across Asia with Buddhism, and became a central festival in Korea from the 4th century CE. Despite suppression under Confucian rule, it survived and is now one of Korea’s most cherished holidays, marked by lantern festivals, rituals, and cultural celebrations.
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Buddha's Birthday (Hong Kong)
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.
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Buddha's Birthday (Macau)
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. Many people visit temples to pray for peace, compassion and good fortune.
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Vesak Day (Singapore)
Vesak Day marks the birth, enlightenment, and passing of the Buddha. In Singapore, it has been a public holiday since 1955 and is celebrated with temple ceremonies, acts of kindness, and community gatherings.
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Buddha Day (Indonesia)
Buddha Day in Indonesia, known as Vesak or Waisak, celebrates the birth, enlightenment, and passing (parinirvana) of Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha. , it is marked by prayers, meditation, and candlelight processions, especially at Borobudur Temple, symbolizing peace, compassion and spiritual awakening.