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Buddha PurnimaBuddha Purnima is also known as Vesak.In Indian Mahayana Buddhist traditions, the holiday is known by its Sanskrit equivalent, Vaisakha.The word Vesak itself is the Sinhalese language word for the Pali variation, "Visakha".Vaishakha is the name of the second month of the lunar Hindu calendar.Buddha Purnima is also known as Visakah Puja,Buddha Jayanti. Lord Buddha is the founder of Buddhism. This day is the birth anniversary of Lord Buddha. It falls on the full moon of the fourth lunar month (month of Vaisakh) i.e. April or May. This day commemorates three important events of Buddha's life celebration In IndiaMay 2007 has two full moon days, the 1st and the 31st. Some countries (including Sri Lanka, Cambodia and Malaysia) will celebrate Vesak on the 1st, while others (Thailand, Singapore) will celebrate the holiday on the 31st. On Vesak day, devout Buddhists and followers alike are expected and requested to assemble in their various temples before dawn for the ceremonial, and honorable, hoisting of the Buddhist flag and the singing of hymns in praise of the holy triple gem: The Buddha, The Dharma (his teachings), and The Sangha (his disciples). Devotees may bring simple offerings of flowers, candles and joss-sticks to lay at the feet of their teacher. These symbolic offerings are to remind followers that just as the beautiful flowers would wither away after a short while and the candles and joss-sticks would soon burn out, so too is life subject to decay and destruction. Devotees are enjoined to make a special effort to refrain from killing of any kind. They are encouraged to partake of vegetarian food for the day. Also birds, insects and animals are released by the thousands in what is known as a 'symbolic act to liberation'; of giving freedom to those who are in captivity, imprisoned, or tortured against their will. Some devout Buddhists will wear a simple white dress and spend the whole day in temples with renewed determination to observe the observance of the Eight Precepts. Young buddhist monk on Vesak Day Parade Young buddhist monk on Vesak Day Parade Devout Buddhists undertake to lead a noble life according to the teaching by making daily affirmations to observe the eight Precepts. However, on special days, notably new moon and full moon days, they observe additional disciplines to train themselves to practice morality, simplicity and humility.
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