Vesak

Vesakh ( Pali: Vesakha; Sanskr: वैशाख, Vaisakha; Hindi: . बैसाख, Baisakh = 2nd month in the Hindu calendar ), Visak, Vesak or Wesak is the highest Buddhist holiday. Celebrated Vesakh in the form of a puja or with processions after the lunisolar on full moon day of the fourth month ( according to the solar calendar in May or in early June ).

The Vesakhfest commemorates the birth, enlightenment ( Nirvana ) and the absolute extinction ( Parinirvana ) of the Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama, and thus its withdrawal from the cycle of rebirth ( samsara ).

The festival originates from the tradition of Theravada Buddhism and is now committed by Buddhists all over the world as the most important common holiday. He also serves as the conscious search of similarities and common roots of different Buddhist traditions around the world. Especially in the Theravada countries of Southeast Asia Vesakh is celebrated as the biggest festival of the year. In addition to the usual full moon fasting and puja ceremonies it is often too hot, animals - especially birds - release to lend his efforts expression to work for the benefit of all beings. Frequently on this holiday, the International Buddhist flag, as a symbol of the global Buddhist unit hoisted.

In Germany, the Buddhists of different directions are united under the umbrella of the German Buddhist Union, which organizes an annual public celebrations Vesakh, for example in Munich Westpark. In Vienna, they take place at the peace stupa at Handelskai on the Danube.

Was Vesakh, in appreciation of the Buddhist contribution to world culture, recognized by the UN General Assembly as an international holiday 1999.

Calendar

The Vesakhfest takes place on the 1st full moon of the month of May as recognized by the United Nations international holiday.

The next dates are according to the Gregorian calendar:

Individual Buddhist communities celebrate the Vesakhfest according to their tradition to appointments, sometimes can vary from a few weeks. This is for example the case when Buddhists who are governed by the Thai and the Chinese lunisolar calendar.