Buddha Purnima 2024 - Date, Timings & History

Buddha Purnima is a popular Buddhist festival that connects people with Shri Gautama Buddha. This festival is celebrated by the Buddhist community every year across India and many other countries. Every year, the date of celebrating Buddha Purnima varies because it is typically celebrated on the full moon day of Vesak. The date of Buddha Jayanti generally falls in April or May, and if it’s a leap year, the festival might fall in June.

So, if you are curious about Buddha Purnima 2024, we’ve got you covered. This post will help you learn about Buddha Purnima 2024, including its time, history, holiday dates etc.

Buddha Purnima 2024

Buddha Purnima, also known as Vesak or Vaisakhi Buddha Purnima, is an annual festival celebrated by Buddhists worldwide. This auspicious festival marks the birth of Gautama Buddha. In other words, Buddha Purnima is a celebration of the birth, enlightenment, and death of Gautama Buddha.

This festival is celebrated on the full moon day of Vaisakha month (April–May) with great joy and enthusiasm by Buddhists in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Tibet, Bangladesh and other countries with large Buddhist populations. During this festival, Buddhists visit temples, engage in special prayer services, and perform acts of charity. They also exchange gifts and greetings of peace and joy.

Date of Buddha Purnima 2024

Buddha Purnima is an auspicious festival on the first full moon day or Purnima of the Hindu’s Vaisakha month. This Hindu month of Vaisakha corresponds to April-May in the Gregorian calendar. In 2024, Buddha Purnima will be celebrated on May 5 (Friday).

Buddha Purnima 2024 Timings

This year, the 2585th Birth Anniversary of Gautama Buddha will be celebrated on Friday, May 5, 2024, as per the timings given below:

Purnima Tithi Begins

In 2024, the Purnima Tithi will begin on May 4 at 11:44 PM.

Purnima Tithi Ends

The Purnima Tithi will end on May 5, 2024, at 11:03 PM.

History Of Buddha Purnima

The exact dates of Gautama Buddha’s birth and death are not known, but it is believed that he lived between the 6th and 4th centuries BC. He was born in the royal family of Lumbini, Nepal and was prophesied to become either a great king or a great sage prior to his birth. After living a luxurious life till 29, he encountered sickness, old age and death and decided to leave the palace and find the cause of suffering.

After years of investigation, he attained enlightenment at age 35 and became known as the Buddha or the Awakened One. He spent the rest of his life preaching the Dharma to others. He passed away at the age of 80 in Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh.

The three important events in the life of Gautama Buddha – his birth, enlightenment and salvation – are said to fall on the same day of the year. This significance has led to the celebration of Buddha’s birth anniversary on the first full moon day of Vaisakha, as decided by the World Fellowship of Buddhists in 1960.

Buddha Purnima Significance

Buddha Purnima is a significant and sacred day for Buddhists all across the globe. The festival celebrates the birth, enlightenment, and death of Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism. This day is also known as Vesak and is celebrated enthusiastically and reverently. On this auspicious day, devotees participate in numerous activities such as meditation, fasting, offering prayers and charity.

Buddha Jayanti is also a day for people to reflect on Buddha’s teachings and strive to live according to his teachings. It is a time of joy and celebration as Buddhists all over the world come together to celebrate the teachings of the Lord Buddha.

Buddha Purnima Celebrations Across India

Buddhists commonly visit temples on Buddha Jayanti or Buddha Purnima to listen to monks give talks and recite ancient verses. Many devotees spend the entire day in one or more temples, and some temples display a small statue of Buddha as a baby in a basin filled with water and flowers. Pouring water over the statue symbolises a fresh start.

Buddhists often follow Buddha’s teachings during Vesak, wearing white robes and eating vegetarian food. Additionally, they often give money, food, or goods to organisations that help the poor, elderly, and sick. Caged animals are bought and set free to demonstrate care for all living creatures, as preached by Buddha.

Public Life on Buddha Purnima

On Buddha Purnima/Vesak, the general population has the day off, and schools and businesses are usually closed. Government offices, banks and post offices are all closed in India. Stores and other businesses may have reduced opening hours; however, transport is usually unaffected.

Best Places to Observe Buddha Purnima in India

Holding great religious significance, some of the best places to observe Buddha Purnima in India involve the following:

1. Bodhgaya, Bihar
2. Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh
3. Mindrolling Monastery, Dehradun
4. Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh
5. Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh
6. Shravasti, Uttar Pradesh
7. Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh
8. Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh
9. Vaishali, Bihar
10. Rumtek Monastery, Gangtok

Buddha Purnima Holiday Dates (2024-2030)

The next 7 years’ calendar of Buddha Purnima is as follows: