Key Dates and Events
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Māgha Pūjā
(Varies each year depending on the lunar calendar. Typically in February to March)
Māgha Pūjā, also known as ṅg Day or Fourfold Assembly, is a Theravādin Buddhist holiday observed on the first full moon day of March. The day commemorates a time in Buddhist history when 1,250 fully enlightened monastics spontaneously came together to offer their respects to the Buddha. It is a festival to honour the ṅg and a chance for people to renew their commitment to Buddhism. The event is celebrated regionally with vary degrees of observation.
Solar New Year
(Varies each year depending on the Buddhist tradition. Usually in April)
More accurately South and Southeast Asian Solar New Year, but may also be colloquially referred to as Buddhist New Year or Theravāda New Year as well as many different names based on the region. This event celebrates the start of the new year, calculated according to the solar calendar. Countries that follow the Theravāda tradition of Buddhism celebrate the event for three days, from the first full moon in April.
Vesak
(Varies each year depending on the lunar calendar. Typically in May)
The day of Vesak (known as ձ in Pāli) is a Buddhist event that commemorates the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha, as well as the end of the New Year celebratory period. In Theravāda traditions, the event is always celebrated on the full moon in the month of ձ (usually the first full moon in May). Followers of Buddhism may visit temples to listen to sermons by monks and participate in chanting and meditation.
Āsāḷha Pūjā
(Varies each year depending on the lunar calendar. Typically in July)
Āsāḷha Pūjā, also known as Dhamma Day, is a Buddhist festival that commemorates the Buddha’s first sermon after his enlightenment and the founding of the Buddha’s ṅg. On this day, Buddhist followers usually make donations to temples, listen to sermons and chant the sacred scriptures recounting the events of the Buddha’s first sermon.
Vassa
(Varies each year depending on the lunar calendar. Typically from July to September)
Vassa is a three-month-long annual retreat observed by Theravāda Buddhist monastics. The event, beginning on the day after Āsāḷha Pūjā, takes place during the wet season of South and Southeast Asia. Monastics typically remain in one place and participate in intensive meditation. Some members of the laity may also participate by abstaining from meat and intoxicants. Many lay Buddhists will also offer food, candles and other necessities to monastics.
ʲṇa
(Varies each year depending on the lunar calendar. Typically in October or November)
ʲṇa is a Theravādin Buddhist event that commemorates the end of Vassa, the three-month period of intensive meditation and practice. ʲṇa is a ceremony for the monastics to ask forgiveness of and ask for feedback or admonishment from their fellow ṅg members with regard to any behaviours that may have been unwholesome.
ṻԲ
(Varies each year depending on the lunar calendar. Typically in October or November)
ṻԲ is a Theravādin Buddhist ceremonial event taking place in the month following the end of Vassa. During this ceremony, laypersons offer gifts, most notably cloth for new robes (from which the name of the event derives). The ceremony is seen as an important merit-making activity as part of ṅg and laity interactions.
Uposatha
(Multiple times a year)
Uposatha is a Buddhist day of observance that occurs four times a month. Each day of observance is dependent on the lunar cycle: new moon, eight days after the new moon, full moon, and eight days after the full moon. On these days, lay Buddhists intensify their practices of gift-giving, meditation, veneration and recitation. On Uposatha days, monastics also gather to recite the monastic code (پǰ).