Buddha Jayanti (Vesak)
बुद्ध जयन्ती
Also known as: Buddha Purnima, Vesak
Celebrates the triple anniversary of Siddhartha Gautama's birth (c. 563 BCE), enlightenment (c. 528 BCE) and death/parinirvana (c. 483 BCE) - all said to have occurred on the same lunar date (Baisakh Purnima full moon).
When
May
Gregorian (approximate — lunar dates shift yearly)
Nepali month
Baisakh
Bikram Sambat calendar
Duration
1 day
Tourist appeal
High
Buddhist · Nationwide
Buddha Jayanti is a public holiday observed across Nepal with particular grandeur at Lumbini (birthplace of the Buddha), Swayambhunath and Boudhanath stupas in Kathmandu. Monasteries hold special prayers, monks carry the Buddha statue in procession, butter lamps are lit, and pilgrims circumambulate (kora) the stupas at dawn.
Traditions & rituals
Candlelight processions at Boudhanath and Swayambhunath
Special prayers (puja) and meditation sessions at monasteries
Mass pilgrimage to Lumbini - 150,000+ visitors
Release of captive animals (fish, birds) as acts of merit
Exhibition of thangka scroll paintings
When does Buddha Jayanti (Vesak) fall this year?
Buddha Jayanti (Vesak) is observed in the Nepali month of Baisakh, which corresponds to roughly May in the Gregorian calendar. Most Nepali festivals follow the lunar Bikram Sambat calendar, so the precise day moves each year. Use our converter to map any Bikram Sambat date to the Gregorian calendar.
Nepali date converter (BS ⇄ AD) →Buddha Jayanti (Vesak), answered
Common questions about the date, duration and meaning of Buddha Jayanti (Vesak).
When is Buddha Jayanti (Vesak) celebrated?+
Buddha Jayanti (Vesak) falls in May — the Nepali month of Baisakh in the Bikram Sambat calendar. Because most Nepali festivals follow the lunar calendar, the exact Gregorian dates shift slightly each year.
How long does Buddha Jayanti (Vesak) last?+
Buddha Jayanti (Vesak) lasts 1 day.
What is the significance of Buddha Jayanti (Vesak)?+
Celebrates the triple anniversary of Siddhartha Gautama's birth (c. 563 BCE), enlightenment (c. 528 BCE) and death/parinirvana (c. 483 BCE) - all said to have occurred on the same lunar date (Baisakh Purnima full moon).
Who celebrates Buddha Jayanti (Vesak) and where?+
Buddha Jayanti (Vesak) is primarily a Buddhist festival, celebrated across Nepal.
Other festivals of Nepal
Sources & data note
Festival dates follow the lunar Bikram Sambat calendar and shift each Gregorian year; the approximate Gregorian months reflect the typical recent range. Cultural details on Buddha Jayanti (Vesak) are sourced from the Nepal Tourism Board and the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation.