Buddha Jayanti 26 May 2021

Buddha Jayanti (Buddha’s Birthday) falls on the full moon of the Nepali month of Baishak (May -June) in Vikrami calendar or Nepal Sambat used in Nepal and also in some parts of India. It is a day that commemorates the birth, attainment of knowledge (Nirvana) and the death of the Enlightened One, Lord Buddha. Devotees gather at the Buddhist shrines especially at Syambhunath and Boudhanath stupa in Kathmandu on this day to pay homage. They circumambulate the stupa and light butter lamps in prayer. Chating of prayers and hosting of prayer flags are common sight. Devotees and Buddhist pilgrims far and wide come to Nepal for the festival. The other special and important Buddhist place of worship is the Buddha’s birthplace, Lumbini which receives large number of visitors at this time.