Buddha Purnima 2022 Date, history, significance, celebration of Buddha Jayanti

Buddha Purnima honors the birth, enlightenment, and death of Siddhartha Gautama, or Lord Buddha. It is one of the largest Buddhist holidays in India.

Year	Date	Day	Holiday	States
2022	16 May	Mon	Buddha Purnima	AN, AR, CG, CH, DL, HP, JH, JK, MH, MP, MZ, TR, UK, UP & WB
2023	5 May	Fri	Buddha Purnima	AN, AR, AS, CG, CH, DL, HP, JH, JK, MH, MP, MZ, OR, TR, UK, UP & WB
2024	23 May	Thu	Buddha Purnima	AN, AR, AS, CG, CH, DL, HP, JH, JK, MH, MP, MZ, OR, TR, UK, UP & WB

Please scroll down to end of page for previous years’ dates.

Although less than one percent of the Indian population identifies as Buddhist, Buddha Purnima is a vibrant holiday that attracts people from across the globe. The date of this holiday is not fixed to the Gregorian calendar like many Western holidays; it is observed on the full moon of the month of Vaishakha on the Hindu calendar. Buddhia Purnima is a holiday that is oriented around humility and respect.
Buddha Purnima was celebrated for hundreds of years after the death of Siddhartha Gautama. Despite this, the festival did not become an official Buddhist holiday until the middle of the 20th century. In 1950, the World Fellowship of Buddhists gathered in Sri Lanka to discuss the future of Buddhism. At this gathering, they decided to make Buddha Purnima an official holiday that would honour the birth, life, and death of Lord Buddha.

Previous Years Buddha Purnima

Year	Date	Day	Holiday	States
2021	26 May	Wed	Buddha Purnima	AN, AR, CG, CH, DL, HP, HR, JH, JK, MH, MP, MZ, TR, UK, UP & WB
2020	7 May	Thu	Buddha Purnima	AN, AR, AS, CG, CH, DL, HP, JH, JK, MH, MP, MZ, OR, TR, UK, UP & WB
2019	18 May	Sat	Buddha Purnima	AN, AR, CG, DL, HP, HR, JH, JK, MH, MP, MZ, TR, UK, UP & WB
2018	30 Apr	Mon	Buddha Purnima	AN, AR, CG, DL, HP, HR, JH, JK, MH, MP, MZ, TR, UK, UP & WB
2017	10 May	Wed	Buddha Purnima	AN, AR, CG, CH, DL, HP, HR, JH, JK, MH, MP, MZ, TR, UK, UP & WB

Buddha Purnima History and significance

The birthday of Gautam Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, is celebrated as Buddha Purnima across the world since he was born as Prince Siddhartha Gautama on the Purnima Tithi (full moon day) in 563 BC in Lumbini (modern day Nepal). In Hinduism, Buddha is considered as the ninth avatar of Lord Vishnu hence, this day is commemorated by Buddhists and Hindus all over the world

In Theravada Buddhism, it is also observed as the day when Buddha, born as Prince Siddhartha Gautama (c. 563-483 BCE) attained Nirvana (salvation) under the Mahabodhi tree at Bodh Gaya, Bihar, as well as his death anniversary. Gautama Buddha preached Dharma (duty), non violence, harmony and kindness. He left his worldly possessions and princedom at the age of 30 to lead a life searching for the truth, seeking penance in the hopes of liberating himself from suffering (duhkha).

Buddha Purnima Celebrations

Devotees of Buddha visit temples, light candles and incense sticks, pray and offer sweets and fruits before the statue of Lord Buddha. Sermons on the life and teachings of Buddha are held and attended by followers all over. People usually dress in white, do not consume non-vegetarian food and distribute kheer, as according to Buddhist lore, on this day a woman named Sujata had offered Buddha a bowl of milk porridge.
Many followers also free caged birds on this day as a symbol of empathy and compassion for all living beings, one of the most important teachings of Lord Buddha. In India, a large fair takes place in Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh, a major Buddhist pilgrimage site where Buddha is said to have delivered his first sermon after attaining enlightenment.

The relics of Buddha are taken out for public display in a procession. Many Hindus also believe Buddha to be the ninth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. This year, with coronavirus pandemic and nationwide lockdown, now in phase 3, the celebrations are likely to look different.

Lumbini, the Birthplace of the Lord Buddha

Siddhartha Gautama, the Lord Buddha, was born in 623 B.C. in the famous gardens of Lumbini, which soon became a place of pilgrimage. Among the pilgrims was the Indian emperor Ashoka, who erected one of his commemorative pillars there. The site is now being developed as a Buddhist pilgrimage centre, where the archaeological remains associated with the birth of the Lord Buddha form a central feature.