Photo by By Kamal Sellehuddin
Visakha Puja Day, also known as Vesakha Wesak, Vesak, Buddha Purnima, and Buddha Day, is a holiday observed traditionally by Buddhists on a range of calendar dates around May 20th in Sri Lanka, Nepal, Tibet, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and the Southeast Asian countries of the Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar and Indonesia, as well as worldwide. Sometimes informally called "Buddha's Birthday", the holiday actually commemorates the birth, enlightenment (Nirvana), and death (Parinirvana) of Gautama Buddha in the Theravada or southern tradition.
Explore URI Cooperation Circles in the Southeast Asia and the Pacific Region, many of whom are celebrating this holiday with their Buddhist friends.
