In the West, known as the ‘Buddha day’, Vesak is the most important date in the Buddhist liturgical calendar. Annually, Buddhists around the world celebrate Vesak on the full moon day of May. Vesak marks three important events in the historical Buddha’s life: (i) the Bodhisatva’s birth in Lumbiṇi, his awakening at Buddha Gayā and his passing away (parinibbāna) in Kuṣinārā. Traditionally, Buddhist devotees in South and Southeast Asia gather in temples and observe the eight precepts. They spend the day meaningfully devoting time to contemplation and reflection.

Sources: Mahinda Deegalle (ed), Vesak, Peace and Harmony: Thinking of Buddhist Heritage (Kelaniya: Nagananda International Buddhist University, 2015), pp. 1–49.