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"Not to commit any sin, to do good and to purify
one's mind, this is the teaching of the awakened ones."
Buddhist Festivals are the days for joy and celebration commemorating some
significant events related to lord Buddha. Apart from religious
significance, Buddhist Festivals also imparts an opportunity for the
people to meet and meditate in local temple or monastery. The principal
Buddhist festivals celebrate 'the Three Jewels', the Buddha, the Dharma
(the Buddhist Teaching), and the Sangha (the spiritual community).
Buddha's Enlightenment
The Buddha's Enlightenment is the central event in Buddhism, thus the
celebration of that Enlightenment, is the most important festival of the
Buddhist year. It is celebrated on the full moon of May/June. In the
monastery, people usually offer meal to the sangha in the morning and this
is responded to by the sangha offering various blessings. They meet and
share various aspects of life-meditation-religion etc, also known as
Visakah Puja or Buddha day, it celebrates the birth, enlightenment and
death of the Buddha on the one day.
Dharma Day: the Celebration of the Buddha's Teaching
This day people pay homage to the Buddha's teachings which started at
Sarnath. It usually falls on the full moon day of the 8th lunar month,
approx. July. It commemorates the Buddha's first teaching to the five
ascetics at the Deer Park (Sarnath) near Benares city, India. On Dharma
day there are often readings from the Buddhist scriptures and a chance to
reflect deeply on their contents. It is also known as Asalha Puja.
Sangha
Day: the Celebration of Spiritual Community
Also known as Magha Puja, it takes places on the full moon day of the
third lunar month in March. This holy day is observed to commemorate an
important event in the life of the Buddha. This event occurred early in
the Buddha's teaching life. It celebrates the assembly of 1250 enlightened
saints, without prior call, when lord Buddha visited Rajgir after his
first sermon at Sarnath.
Kathina Ceremony: the Robe offering ceremony
It takes place within one month of the conclusion of the Vassa Retreat,
and usually the gathering of people offer new robes and other requisites
to the monks.
Buddhist Festivals in Leh Ladakh (Monastic Festivals)