Buddha Purnima 2024: Date, Timings, Significance, and More

Buddha Purnima, also known as Vesak or Buddha Jayanti, is a significant and joyous festival celebrated by Buddhists worldwide. This auspicious day marks the birth, enlightenment (nirvana), and passing (Parinirvana) of the Buddha, honoring his life and profound teachings.

In India, Buddha Purnima is celebrated with great fervor and devotion, with rituals including temple visits, meditation, and chanting of Buddhist scriptures. The festival is also observed with enthusiasm in various Southeast Asian countries, such as Thailand, China, Cambodia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Tibet. Celebrations often involve offering food and alms to monks, participating in charitable acts, and performing rituals like bathing in holy rivers. This day brings together communities to reflect on Buddha’s teachings and their relevance in today’s world.

Let us know the dates and timings of Buddha Purnima 2024 and also we will discuss about the origin and significance of Buddha Purnima.

Table Of Contents

1 Buddha Purnima 2024: Dates and Timings
2 Buddha Purnima: Origin and Significance

Buddha Purnima 2024: Dates and Timings

In the Buddhist and Hindu calendars, as well as the Vikram Samvat calendar, the month of Vaisakha marks the anniversary of Buddha’s moksha and birth. This important event is determined according to the lunisolar calendars commonly used in Asia.

Usually observed on the full moon day of the Vaisakha month in the Buddhist calendar, this celebration occurs in regions historically connected to Buddha’s life, such as present-day India and Nepal.

The date of Buddha’s birthday varies each year in the Western Gregorian calendar but typically falls in April or May. In 2024, this significant day will be observed on Thursday, May 23rd.

The observance of Buddha Purnima in 2024 includes specific timings for various rituals and ceremonies based on the lunar calendar. Here are the detailed timings and their significance:

Purnima Tithi Begins: The full moon phase, known as Purnima Tithi, starts on May 22, 2024, at 6:47 PM. This marks the beginning of the day considered auspicious for celebrating Buddha Purnima.
Purnima Tithi Ends: The full moon phase concludes on May 23, 2024, at 7:22 PM. This period encompasses the main festivities and rituals of Buddha Purnima.

During Buddha Purnima, certain times are considered especially auspicious for specific activities:

Auspicious Time for Bathing and Donations: On May 23, from 4:04 AM to 5:26 AM, it is highly auspicious to take a ceremonial bath and make charitable donations. These acts are believed to purify the soul and accumulate merit.
Auspicious Time for Worshiping Lord Vishnu: The ideal time for worshipping Lord Vishnu, an important deity in Hinduism, is from 10:35 AM to 12:18 PM on May 23. Offering prayers during this period is believed to bring blessings and spiritual benefits.

These carefully calculated times help devotees maximize the spiritual significance and benefits of their observances on Buddha Purnima.

Buddha Purnima: Origin and Significance

Prince Siddhartha Gautama, born around 563 BC in Lumbini, in present-day Nepal, later became known as Buddha after undergoing a profound spiritual transformation that led to his enlightenment, or nirvana. Raised in the kingdom of Kapilavastu under his father’s rule, Siddhartha attained enlightenment through meditation under a Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya, Bihar.

According to legend, Gautama Buddha liberated himself from the cycle of birth and rebirth, becoming a philosopher, spiritual teacher, religious figure, and dedicated meditator. In Hindu traditions, he is recognized as the ninth avatar of Vishnu, symbolizing reincarnation.

Buddha Purnima is a major and joyous event in the Buddhist calendar, celebrating Gautama Buddha, the ‘Enlightened One’ who transcended karma and achieved liberation from the cycle of rebirth.

The day is observed with temple visits, meditation sessions, chanting of Buddhist scriptures, offering food and alms to monks, and engaging in charitable acts. Many Buddhists and Hindus also partake in rituals such as bathing in holy rivers, worshiping Lord Buddha and Lord Satyanarayan, and making offerings to the moon.