Buddha Purnima is the biggest day for Buddhists because on this day, it is believed three important events of the Buddha's life took place: his birth, his attaining enlightenment, and his death, Paranirvana. This day is known as Thrice Blessed Festival.
On this day, followers of Buddhism wear white clothes and meditate. They consume only vegetarian food. Often, people also celebrate it by preparing 'kheer'- an Indian sweet dish, at their homes. Offerings are made to the Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya, Bihar, and alms are also distributed to the needy and poor.
In India, Buddha Purnima is a holiday in Andaman and Nicobar, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Miizoram, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh.
Date and Time
Buddha Purnima is on May 16 this year (in India and Nepal) or May 19 (for those in Southeast Asian countries). The date varies because May has two full moon days, and the Buddhist and Hindu lunar calendars can be interpreted differently.
