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Buddah Day (Vesak, Visakah Puja):
The main Buddhist holiday. Celebrates the birth, enlightenment and
death of Buddha. Celebrated on the first full mood day of May (in leap
year celebrated in June).
Anapanasati Day: Celebration
of the day that Buddha went to the Tushita Heaven to teach his mother the
Abhidhamma. Celebrated on the full month of the seventh month of the lunar
calendar (may differ between sects).
Asalha Puja Day (Dhamma Day):
A commemoration of Buddha's first teachings. Celebrated on the full moon
day of the eights lunar month.
Avalokitesvara's Birthday (Kuan
Yin): Celebrates the ideal of the perfection of compassion.
Celebrated on the full moon day of March.
Buddhist New Year: The
beginning of the year, based upon a lunar calendar. Note: Buddhists
from different countries celebrate different dates. Celebrated on the
first full mood day of the first month of the year.
The Elephant Festival: This
date celebrates one of Buddha's teachings where he used a wild elephant to
illustrate how to train a member new to Buddhism. Celebrated on the
third Saturday in November.
The Festival of the Tooth: A
celebration for the tooth of Buddha that is stored in the city of Kandy,
Sri Lanka. Celebrated on the night of the full moon in August.
Kathina Ceremony (Robe offering
ceremony): The formal offering of robe cloth to the Sangha.
Celebrated within one month after the Vassa Retreat.
Loy Krathong (Festival of
Floating Bowls): To celebrate homage to the holy footprint of Buddha
left on the beach of the Namada River. Celebrated at the end of the Kathin
Festival Season. Celebrator make bowls of leaves and float them down
the river. Bad luck is supposed to disappear with these bowls.
Magha Puja Day (Fourfold
Assembly, Sangha Day): Commemorates an event where, without being
called, Buddha met with the 1250 Arahats who were ordained. Celebrated on
the full moon day of the third lunar month.
Pavarana Day: Celebrates the
conclusion of the Rains retreat.
The Ploughing Festival:
Celebrates Buddha's first moment of enlightenment. Celebrated in May
when the moon is half-full.
Ulambana (Ancestor Day):
Celebrates the time when the gates to the underworld are opened up during
the first fifteen days of the eighth lunar month. On the last day of
the celebration, food offerings are made to the departed who have come
through the gate.
Uposatha (Observance Day):
Four monthly holy days celebrated every month: full moon, new moon,
quarter moon and three-quarter moon.
For more detailed information on these holidays,
please visit
BudhaNet.com
at
http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/history/festival1.htm
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