Nepal to celebrate the 2558th Anniversary
of the Buddha’s Life
Buddhistdoor
InternationalSagar Mani Shiwakoti 2014-05-05
KATHMANDU – The 2558th anniversary of
Gautama Buddha’s life, also known as Vesak or Buddha Purnima, is
going to be celebrated in Nepal with a variety of traditional and
modern festivities. Each year, the holy festival of the birth,
enlightenment and Mahaparinirvana of Lord Buddha falls on the full
moon day of Baishakh (first month of the Hindu lunar calendar). In
2014, Buddha Purnima is going to be celebrated on May 14 (Baishakh
31, according to the Hindu calendar).
According to Bhikshu Ashwini, a member of
the 2558th Birthday Celebration Committee, His Excellency Thospal
Nayak, the ambassador of Sri Lanka to Nepal, will first pay homage
to the remains of Buddha at the vault of Sri Lanka Ram Chaitanya.
It will then be made open to the general public.
According to Ven. Ashwini, the sacred
remains will be displayed all around the Kathmandu Valley in a
procession, especially in the Swayambhunath area, where they will
be exhibited and accompanied by chanting and music. The temple of
Ananda Kuti Vihar has traditionally carried the relic of Buddha
around the city once every four years. To consolidate these
customs, the Birthday Celebration Committee of Gautama Buddha was
formed with members from different Buddhist organizations and holds
an assembly at the Ananda Kuti Vihar every year during Buddha
Purnima.
Bhikshu Ashwini adds that another assembly
is being organized in the presence of Mr. Sushil Koirala, Prime
Minister of Nepal. A blood donation program will be organized on
the auspicious occasion. Devotees from different Buddhist
communities (both lay and monastic) and monasteries will
participate in the religious procession round the Valley, reciting
from Buddhist scriptures. Since the committee is concerned about
the propagation and extension of Buddhism, religious discourses and
sermons on Buddhism will also be hosted.
Bhikshu Kaundinya, executive member of the
Lumbini Development Trust, confirms that Lumbini will also host
various local programs to celebrate Vesak. Apart from blood
donation programs, different Buddhism-related celebrations are
being organized nationwide. Vesak was observed last year with great
pomp and respect, and the Nepalese government has also started to
invest in organizing different programs to celebrate this occasion.
According to Venerable Kaundinya, the government should offer more
attention to the development of Buddhism studies and facilitate the
protection and conservation of Buddhist heritage
sites.
On May 22, 1951 for the first time in
Nepalese history, a public holiday was inaugurated to commemorate
Veshakh and on February 19, 1956 an announcement was made to ban
killing and any other form of violence in Lumbini on the day of
Vesak. The UN system also observes a public holiday on Vesak,
revering the man who gave Buddhism to the world.
