What is Vesak Day and Its Meaning?

What is Vesak Day – May 16, 2022 falls as Vesak Day. Vesak is a major Buddhist day. Every year Buddhists celebrate Vesak Day by going to the temple and doing puja-bhakti.

In Indonesia, Vesak Day has been designated as a national holiday since January 19, 1983. What is Vesak Day? How does that mean? And what's the line? Check out the full article below, come on!

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What is Vesak Day?

Vesak Day is a Buddhist holiday which is celebrated in May when the moon is bright (purnama sidhi). The word "Vesak" comes from the Pali language "Vesakha" or in Sanskrit "Vaisakha". The word is taken from the name of the month in the Buddhist calendar which usually falls in May.

In India, Vesak is known as Visakah Puja or Buddha Purnima, in Malaysia and Singapore it is known as Vesak, and Visakha Bucha in Thailand.

In addition, Vesak Day is often referred to as the Trisuci Vesak Day. This is because there are three important events that occur on the same day when the full moon is in the month of Vesak.

This year, Vesak Day in Indonesia falls on May 16, 2022 or 2566 BE (Buddhist Era). The calendar follows the decision World Fellowship of Buddhists (WFB).

The Meaning and Purpose of the Vesak Celebration

Vesak celebrations are held to commemorate three important events, namely the birth of Prince Siddharta in Lumbini Park in 623 BC, Prince Siddharta attained the Great Enlightenment and became a Buddha in Buddha-Gaya (Bodh Gaya) at the age of 35 years in 588 BC, and Gautama Buddha Parinibbana passed away. (died) at Kusinara at the age of 80 in 543 BC.

According to Dhammacitta, on Vesak Day Buddhists perform a puja-bhakti ritual that aims to remember the teachings of the Buddha which means obeying moral rules, such as not killing living beings, stealing, immorality, lying, and drinking.

In addition, on Vesak Day, Buddhists develop love by helping the poor, releasing animals (birds) as a symbol of love and respect for the environment, and reflecting on all the deeds that have been done.

Vesak Celebration Series

Quoted from sidoluhur.desa, there are three main series of national Vesak celebrations,

1. Taking blessing water from the Jumprit spring (umbul) in Temanggung Regency and lighting torches using the Mrapen eternal fire source, Grobogan Regency.

2. The Pindapatta Ritual, the ritual of giving food alms to monks by the people as an opportunity to carry out policies.

3. Samadhi at the peak of the full moon. The determination is based on astronomy calculations so that the peak of the full moon can occur during the day.

In addition to these three main series. Usually there are pradaksina, parades, and art events, one of which is the release of lanterns with the meaning that the prayers that are said can be realized immediately.

This year's Vesak Day celebration was held and centered at Borobudur Temple, Magelang, Central Java from May 14 to May 16, 2022 with the national theme Path of Wisdom Towards True Happiness.

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Vesak as a Buddhist holiday can provide a positive example for every human being. Starting from loving each other and giving love to fellow living beings, helping each other those in need, protecting and loving the environment around us, and other actions such as not stealing and lying.

The great hope of Vesak Day is that every human being can reflect on all his actions, as stated in the Dhammapada, "Hate will not be finished if it is repaid with hatred, but only by forgiveness and love will hatred disappear."

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