Buddha Jayanti was on May 05, 2023
Buddha Jayanti also known as Buddha Purnima is a festival celebrated as the birthday of Lord Buddha, the founder of Buddhism. Gautama Buddha is one of the most popular iconic figures in human history for the promotion of Peace, Love, and Equality.
Born in 623 BC in the sacred land of Kapilbastu in Nepal as a prince to king Śuddhodana and Queen Maya. Siddhartha Gautama was the first given name to the prince. He spends his luxurious life in the palace for 29 years.
Later he got married to princess Yāsodharā and begetting a son named Rahul. Gautama was distracted by the suffering and death of living beings and was desperate to find the reason for the cause and effect of all those sufferings.
Thus, at the age of 29, he gave up his lavish life and went into the wood to find the truth through meditating and started leading an ascetic life. After 6 years of strong penance and meditation, finally at the age of 35, Gautama Buddha was Enlighted and was thus named ‘Lord Buddha’.
Lord Buddha started teaching people about life and death, the purpose of birth, and the cause of suffering. He traveled to the Indian sub-continent, teaching people about his finding and the number of followers started to increase and now Buddhism as a philosophy has traveled worldwide.
Buddha taught till the age of 80 before he attained nirvana (death) and his teaching is always in demand and need in this 21st century. He spread the message of love and brotherhood and now the world where we live desperately needs to follow his teaching, to make this world a living place for all sentient beings.
Now, Buddhism is one of the fastest-growing religions with millions of followers and the philosophy is taught everywhere in schools and in universities. This indicates the need and importance of Buddhism as a philosophy and will be there until we personally implement it in our life. Thus, recognizing the importance of Buddhism, Lord Buddha is also titled ‘The Light of Asia’.
In Nepal, Buddha Purnima or Buddha Jayanti is an official holiday and is celebrated in every nook and corner. Hindu philosophy regards Buddha as one of the 9th reincarnations of Lord Vishnu, who is also regarded as Lord of Preserver’.
There are numerous holy sites in and around Kathmandu valley, where Buddha Jayanti is celebrated. People visit monasteries, temples, Gumbas to pay homage to Lord Buddha for his gift to humanity.
They also visit monks to take blessings and attain religious procession towards holy sites related to Buddhism.
If you want to observe and be part of the great celebration of Lod Buddha, join the team of Discover Altitude and visit some of the highly recommended sites which include Mitra Park Swyambhunath Stupa, Bouddhanath Stupa, and Patan for a day tour.
Or if you want to organize Lumbini Tour the birthplace of Lord Buddha, contact us. We will arrange for this particular Buddha Jayanti to be in one of the holiest sites.