“Buddha Jayanti“, the birthyday of Lord Buddha is looked as one of the great festival by the people of Nepal.
There are many historical monuments in Nepal, and one of them is the Pillar of Lumbini, which has significance and tells us that Gautam Buddha, the Light of Asia, was born in Nepal. Therefore, Lumbini is a favorite place of the Buddhists. Further, the Buddhists regard every full moon day sacred and auspicious.
Of all the full moon days, the one that falls in the Nepali month of Baisakh (April – May) has importance because on this full moon day, Gautam Buddha came to this world. This full moon day is also known as “Buddha Jayanti” or “Buddha Purnima.” “Buddha Jayanti” is one of the public holidays of Nepal.
Not only in Lumbini “Buddha Jayanti” is celebrated, but also in Bodh Gaya, India. Those, who are unable to go to Lumbini and Bodh Gaya, celebrates “Buddha Jayanti” in the holiest Buddhist sites of Kathmandu, such as Swoyambhunath, Boudhanath, and Kopan.
The day is marked with the sermons on the life of Gautam Buddha, religious discourses, continuous recitation of Buddhist scriptures, group meditation, processions, and worship of the statue of Buddha. People also talk about the teachings of Lord Buddha, and some of his teaching are:
-Not to harm anybody
-Not to kill any living creatures
-Not to steal any things
-Not to do any sexual misconduct
-Not to speak lie
-Not to drink or eat anything, which intoxicates our brains.
