“Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.” ~ Gautam Buddha
The festival of Buddha Purnima is celebrated on the birth anniversary of Prince Siddharth Gautam, who later became Gautam Buddha and founded Buddhism.
This year Buddha Purnima falls on Thursday, 23rd May, 2024. This year marks 2586th birth anniversary of Gautam Buddha.
Buddha Purnima Timings:
Purnima Tithi Begins: 6:47 pm on May 22, 2024
Purnima Tithi ends at 7:22 pm on May 23, 2024
History
The exact dates of Buddha’s birth and death aren’t known, but historians think he lived from around 563 to 483 BC. Gautam Buddha was born in Lumbini, Nepal, and reached Nirvana (a state of perfect peace) at the age of 35. Buddha Purnima is a day to think about the main ideas of Buddhism: peace, compassion, and enlightenment. In some parts of South and Southeast Asia, this festival is also called Vesak. It celebrates Buddha’s enlightenment and his entry into Nirvana. The festival is a time to share the message of peace and harmony.
Significance
In Buddhism, the full moon is very important because three key events in Gautam Buddha’s life happened on this day. The full moon in May is especially special because:
1. Prince Siddhartha was born in Lumbini Grove.
2. He became enlightened and turned into Gautama Buddha under the Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya after six years of hard work.
3. After teaching for 45 years, he passed away at the age of 80 in Kusinara, reaching Nibbana (Nirvana), which means he was freed from the cycle of rebirth.