Buddhist Festivals

Parinibbana

This festival also called 'All Saints day' commemorates three events in the Buddha's life, namely the occasion when he took his 3 chief disciples, the occasion when he received the rules by which monks should live and his announcement that he would die in 3 months time. Normally celebrated in a monastery in the presence on monks.

Wesak

This is the most important festival in the Theradvada Buddhist tradition. It commemmerates three important events in the Buddha's life, namely his birth, enlightenment and death. This is a time when people try especially hard to live up to the teachings of the Buddha. Kindness and generosity are two virtues that are emphasied. In all Theradvada Buddhist countries the festival is marked by much colour and gaiety. Homes are cleaned and decorated for the occasion. People visit temples to make offerings and statues of the Buddha are washed with scented water. Streets and homes are lit with lanterns and inn Sri Lanka there are various street entertainments and pageants whereas in Thailand the day's celebrations come to an end with candlelit processions around the local temples.

Rains-Retreat

This relates back to a story about the Lord Buddha's early preaching period, when a farmer complained of monks traveling by foot who trampled and destroyed his crops during the rainy season. Others criticized the monks for stepping on small living creatures, e.g. insects, crabs, etc. After hearing these complaints, Lord Buddha made a rule that all of his monks must remain within their own wiharn or abode during the rainy season, and temporarily refrain their outside activities of travelling and teaching. This 3-month period was designated the Buddhist Rains Retreat.

Poson / Dhamma Vijaya

Poson is held on the full moon in June. It remembers when Buddhism was first brought to Sri Lanka.

Asala Perahara

This festival falls on the full moon day of the month of Asalha. It celebrates the first sermon of the Buddha and the setting of the Wheel of Truth (Dhammacakka) into the world.

Kathina

Kathina is a special festival that takes place in Thailand at the end of the rainy season. People take gifts to the monastery to say 'thank-you' to the monks for the work they do and to recognise their importance. The gifts are useful things such as cloth for new robes and are given to the monastery rather than individual monks as monks cannot own things. Gifts are given at this time earn more merit for the person who gives them.