There are several major Buddhist festivals celebrated around the world. They signify the important events took place in the life of the Buddha.
VESAK CELEBRATION (Commemoration of Birth, Enlightenment and Passing away of the Buddha)
On the full moon day of May, Prince Siddhartha was born in Lumbini Park, in Nepal, under a sala tree in the year 623 BCE. It was on the same day, the full moon of May, Ascetic Gotama attained Buddhahood in the year of 588BCE. This was under the bodhi tree in Gaya.
After his unparalleled service to men and gods for 45 years, when he was at the age of 80, again on the same day, the full moon day of May, under the twin sala trees, the Buddha attained parinibbana which is his passing away not to be born again. So the full moon day of May is called ‘Vesak day”. This day is the most significant day for all Buddhists all over the world. That was why this day was accepted and declared as the most holy day for Buddhists by the United Nations. We celebrate this ‘Thrice Blessed Day’ by organizing special activities to honor the Buddha and pay our utmost gratitude to the Triple Gem, the Buddha Dhamma and the Sangha.
VAS ARADHANA (Rains Retreat Invitation)
This is a special Buddhist tradition that come down from the time of the Buddha. On the full moon day of July, the devotees in the town or village invite monastics to observe vas (rains residence) for three months. The monks then observe rains residence at one particular temple pr a monastery. During the three months devotees pledge to provide four requisites (food and drinks, clothes, shelter and medication). In brief, they take care the monastics during the three months.At the end of the three months, on the full moon day of October they come to the termination of the retreat and then the devotees get a wonderful opportunity to offer a special robe called Kathina.
KATHINA (Robe Offering Ceremony)
This is a colorful and big ceremony in every temple or monastery. Kathina simply means firmness, strong, hard, solid or durability. It is not the robe that one offers that is durable or solid but the result or merit that one receives from this meritorious deed. For the completion of Kathina both monastics and the devotees should dedicate for three months. That is why it is difficult to do, hard to perform. For the completion of Kathina there are four things to be completed. They are: 1. a full fledged monk/nun 2. Properly received robe 3. The quorum of five monks and 4. revocation and determination of the robes. With the completion of these, eventually each and everybody can be happy and contented. Monastics and the devotees both are the recipients of this special ceremony. This ceremony could be performed only one time a year in a particular one temple or monastery.
