Buddha Jayanti: The birthday of Lord Buddha

Buddha Jayanti also known as Buddha Purnima which is the major festivals celebrated by the Buddhist all around the world. This festival is celebrated in the commemoration of Lord Buddha. Lord Buddha is reflected as the ninth avatar of Lord Vishnu.  The day of Baisakh Purnima is special among the Buddhism followers because the day is not only the day Gautam Buddha was born, but the day was also blessed as the day Gautam Buddha got enlightenment and Nirvana. Thus, the festival in Baisakh Purnima celebrates the three main events; the Birth, Enlightenment and Nirvana of the light of Asia, Gautam Buddha. Buddha was born in 543 B.C. in Kapilvastu, Lumbini, Nepal as the son of king Suddhodhana and Queen Maya Devi.  He went on to reach enlightenment at the age of 35 and attained Nirvana at the age of 80.

In 2019, the festival falls on 18^th May. Nepal celebrates Buddha Jayanti with huge dedication. There are many events and rituals that the followers perform around the stupas and shrines all around Nepal. Grand celebrations occur in Lumbini which is birthplace of Gautam Buddha, the Swayambhunath stupa, the Bouddhanath stupa and many other stupas. On the event of Buddha Jayanti, many processions and programs take place in Lumbini. The devotees decorate the Maya Devi temple very attractively with colorful lights. The statue of Gautam Buddha is kept in the chariot, and a procession is carried out. Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal, celebrates the birthday of Gautam Buddha in a very pleasant way. The Swayambhunath stupa, one of the World Heritage site, located at the west of Kathmandu, obtains a huge mass of the devotees during the day. The Bouddhanath stupa, another famous stupa in Nepal also celebrates the commemoration in a mesmerizing way.  The stupas are ornate with the lights which look wonderful. The lightning all around these huge stupas make them like they are the peace of heaving landed to earth.

Celebrations remain on the following day when, allowing to Buddha Jayanti tradition, a massive figure of Lord Buddha is presented to followers, and many small memorials are respected. The roofs of the homes of believers are decorated with colorful white, yellow, red and blue flags twisting and turning in the breeze, adding to the festive atmosphere of the circumstance. People meet into large groups to parade through the streets while chanting prayers to the Lord Buddha to thank him for all his substantial requirements. A Buddha Purnima festival needs that followers and monks offer candles, flowers and a different type of fruit to the statue of Lord Buddha, while the smoke of burning incense fills the air. People from all over the world to visit the Mahabodhi tree, the site where Buddha attained enlightenment. Colored flags are hanging to the tree and fruit and candle presents are made to it as well.

Filed in: Laxmi Khanal