BUDDHA PURNIMA

BUDDHA PURNIMA

Subject : Culture

Context : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will deliver a key-note address at the international event organised to mark Buddha Purnima Diwas. The event is being organised by the Ministry of Culture and International Buddhist Confederation.

Concept :

• Vesak is the most sacred day for Buddhists around the world.
• It is also known as Buddha Purnima and Buddha Day.
• The day commemorates birth, enlightenment and Death (or Parinirvana) of Lord Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, all of which is said to take have taken place on the same day.
• Vesak, falls on the full moon day (Purnima) of the month Vaishakha (May), hence the occasion is referred to as Buddha Purnima in India.
• Recognition by United Nations (UN): The General Assembly, by its resolution in 1999, recognized internationally the Day of Vesak. It was done to acknowledge the contribution that Buddhism made to humanity.