Festivals & Ceremonies of Buddhist

There is Hindu beliefs that Buddhism is a philosophy/religion created by Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha) over 2500 years ago. Mahayana and Theravada are the two major divisions and there are also many subdivisions. There is a believe in Buddhist that one must rise above desires, to reach a state of enlightenment. Those who are the followers of Buddha, there is advise for them if they were to thrive they should meet together regularly and in large numbers. So festivals are central to the Buddha and his teachings. There are many different festivals of Buddhism around the world. But some festival are special to a particular country. Like, Poson Day is famous in Sri Lanka.

All buddhists celebrate wesak or buddha day. Buddhist festivals have religious, social and historical dimensions and colourful. The dates of Buddhist festivals vary from country to country and between Buddhist traditions. There are lots of Buddhist festivals, here are some of the important ones:

Buddhist New Year: From the first full moon day of April, the New Year is celebrated for three days, Thailand, Burma, Sri Lanka, Cambodia and Lao follows so. In Mahayana countries the new year starts on the first full moon day in January. However, the Buddhist New Year changes on the country of origin. like, Chinese, Koreans and Vietnamese celebrate late January or early February according to the lunar calendar, 

Vesak or Visakah Puja ("Buddha Day")
Traditionally, Buddha's Birthday Celebrations is known as Vesak or Visakah Puja. Its the major Buddhist festival of the year as it celebrates the birth, teaching and death of the Buddha on the one day, the first full moon day in May, but in a leap year when the festival is held in June. In the Indian calendar this celebration is called Vesak.

Vesak Festival Sri Lanka

Magha Puja Day ("Sangha Day") 

This is also called Fourfold Assembly. It takes places on the full moon day of the third lunar month (March). This holy day is observed as an important event in the life of the Buddha. This event occurred early in the Gautam buddha's teaching life.

The assembly is called the Fourfold Assembly because it consisted of four factors: (1) All 1250 were Arahats (2) All of them were ordained by the Buddha himself (3) They assembled by themselves  without any prior call (4) It was the full moon day of Magha month (March). 

Asalha Puja Day ("Dhamma Day")
It means to pay homage to the Buddha on the full moon day of the 8th lunar month (approximately July),that  commemorates the Buddha's first teaching: the turning of the wheel of the Dhamma.  Where Kondanna, the senior ascetic attained the first level of enlightenment (the Sotapanna level of mind purity).   

Songkran festival

Uposatha (Observance Day)
The four monthly holydays are observed in Theravada countries - the new moon, full moon, and quarter moon days that is  Known in Sri Lanka as Poya Day.

Pavarana Day
the conclusion of the Rains retreat (vassa) is marks as Pavarana day.The kathina ceremony is held In the following month, during this time the laity gather to make formal offerings of robe cloth and other requisites to the Sangha.

Kathina Ceremony (ceremony of Robe offering)
usually this ceremony established on any convenient date within one month of the conclusion of the Vassa Retreat,  which is the three month rains retreat season. By the laity to the monks the year when new robes and other requisites offers.

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