Vesak (Mahayana)

Vesak (Mahayana) (veh-suhk) (maa-huh-yaa-nuh)

Vesak is the most sacred day of the Buddhist calendar. It celebrates the birth, life, and death of the Buddha and is typically celebrated during the week of the full moon during the ancient Indian month “Wesak.” While in Mahayana Buddhism, the birth, enlightenment, and death of the Buddha are celebrated on three separate days, the Birth of the Buddha celebration usually falls close to when other groups of Buddhists celebrate Vesak, which is known in Mahayana Buddhists by its Sanskrit name Vaisakha.

Common Practices

During Vesak, Buddhists decorate temples with flowers and other decorations, where they gather at dawn to raise the Buddhist flag and sing hymns. Often, they will bring gifts or offerings to lay at the feet of the Buddha, and some will place a small statue of the Buddha in a bowl of water with flowers at the front of their altars, which people can wash. This is meant to remove bad karma and is referred to as the bathing of the Buddha. Believers will also perform charity work and acts of kindness and will not eat meat as they are expected not to kill anything for the day.

Community Considerations

Do not schedule important events or activities, especially in the early morning or late night. Expect that observers will not attend meetings or communicate and will eat vegetarian foods.

Vesak (Mahayana)

Vesak (Mahayana) (veh-suhk) (maa-huh-yaa-nuh)

Common Practices

Community Considerations

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