Vesak
Buddha's birthday celebration
Vesak is the most important Buddhist holiday, commemorating the birth, enlightenment, and death of the Buddha, which tradition holds all occurred on the same day of the lunar calendar.
Celebrated on the full moon in May or June, observances include meditation, offerings at temples, and acts of generosity.
Also spelled Wesak or Visakha.
Enclosed portable light sources
- processionFormal moving line
- almsgivingGiving to the needy
- devoteesPassionate adherents
- pilgrimageReligious journey to shrine
rituals · chanting · offerings · incense · flowers · candles · dana · white clothing
Buddha's collected teachings
- SanghaBuddhist monastic community
- TheravadaBuddhism of the elders
- MahayanaBuddhism stressing universal liberation
- BodhisattvaEnlightened being aiding others
Pali · Buddha · Siddhartha · Four Noble Truths · Gautama · Vinaya
Return to consciousness
- nirvanaRelease from cyclical existence
- insightDeep perceptive understanding
- realizationGrasping what's true
- wisdomGood judgment from experience
liberation · illumination · awareness · understanding · transcendence · cessation · deliverance · omniscience
Day of rest
- holy daySacred date for worship
- public holidayOfficial day of rest
- bank holidayScheduled national day off
- national holidayOfficial day of observance
annual · commemoration · tradition · religious observance · birth · death
Of the moon
- full moon dayDay moon reaches fullness
- moonriseMoon appearing over horizon
- celestialOf the sky above
- luminousEmitting or reflecting light
lanterns
Enclosed portable light sources
- processionFormal moving line
- almsgivingGiving to the needy
- devoteesPassionate adherents
pilgrimage · rituals · chanting · offerings · incense · flowers · candles · dana · white clothing · floating lanterns
Dharma
Buddha's collected teachings
- SanghaBuddhist monastic community
- TheravadaBuddhism of the elders
- MahayanaBuddhism stressing universal liberation
Bodhisattva · Pali · Buddha · Siddhartha · Four Noble Truths · Gautama · Vinaya
awakening
Return to consciousness
- nirvanaRelease from cyclical existence
- insightDeep perceptive understanding
- realizationGrasping what's true
wisdom · liberation · illumination · awareness · understanding · transcendence · cessation · deliverance · omniscience
holiday
Day of rest
- holy daySacred date for worship
- public holidayOfficial day of rest
- bank holidayScheduled national day off
national holiday · annual · commemoration · tradition · religious observance · birth · death
lunar
Of the moon
- full moon dayDay moon reaches fullness
- moonriseMoon appearing over horizon
- celestialOf the sky above
luminous · auspicious · lunar cycle · moonlit
VesakChristmas
Winter nativity celebration
Easter · Good Friday · Eid al-Fitr · Eid al-Adha · Diwali
VesakIndependence Day
National sovereignty anniversary
civic holiday · New Year's Day · Labor Day · Thanksgiving · Memorial Day
VesakCarnival
Pre-fasting festival season
Mardi Gras · Fat Tuesday · Oktoberfest · Purim · Holi