Buddhist Festivals (AQA GCSE Religious Studies A (8062))

Wesak

Buddhist festivals

• Buddhist festivals are usually a time for joy and celebration, although some festivals (such as Parinirvana Day) are more solemn occasions

• Festivals give Buddhists:

  • An opportunity to remember and celebrate the Buddha's life and his teachings

  • An opportunity to meet and practise together

• Two key Buddhist festivals are Wesak and Parinirvana Day

Buddhist festivals

Wesak

• Wesak is also known as Vesak or Buddha Day

• This is the best-known and most famous Buddhist festival

• It is celebrated in the month of Vesak, which is generally in May

• It is a Theravada festival

The Significance of Wesak

• Wesak commemorates three major events in the Buddha's life: his birth, his enlightenment and his death

• Wesak is a festival to honour and remember the Buddha and his teachings

How Buddhists Celebrate Wesak

• Light is very important in Wesak celebrations:

  • Buddhists may decorate and light up their homes with candles, lamps or paper lanterns

  • They release the lanterns to symbolise the light of the path of enlightenment overcoming the darkness of ignorance

  • They will make offerings to the Buddha, and may give gifts such as food, candles and flowers to the monks in the local monastery

• They take part in worship and meditation at the local temple or monastery:

  • The monks may lead meditation, chant from the Buddhist scriptures or give sermons about the Buddha's life, teachings and enlightenment

• Wesak celebrations vary from country to country:

  • In Singapore, there are ceremonies where caged birds and animals are released as a symbol of liberation and release from troubles and wrong-doings

_{Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons}

Lit candles on Wesak Day

Parinirvana Day

Parinirvana Day

• Parinirvana Day is a Mahayana festival that commemorates the Buddha’s death

• In this festival Buddhists remember the Buddha’s passing into parinirvana, the final state of Nibbana

• It is a more solemn occasion than Wesak

• Parinirvana Day is celebrated in February

The Significance of Parinirvana Day

• Because Buddhists commemorate the passing of the Buddha, Parinirvana Day is a chance to:

  • Reflect on their own future death

  • Remember friends or relatives who have passed away

• The Buddhist idea of Anicca (all things are impermanent) is a focus for the day

How Buddhists Celebrate Parinirvana Day

• Buddhists may read and study the scriptures:

  • They will focus on reading the Mahaparinirvana Sutra, an important Buddhist scripture that describes the Buddha's last days

• They may meditate at home

• Some Buddhists join their community in temples and monasteries for Puja and meditation

• Some Buddhists might go on a pilgrimage:

  • Many Buddhists will visit the city of Kushinagar in India, where the Buddha is believed to have died

• Some Buddhists will go on retreats for extra prayer and reflection at this solemn time

Buddhist retreats

• At times such as Parinirvana Day Buddhists may take part in retreats

• These are times spent away from normal life to practise their faith

Buddhist retreats