Buddhist Festivals

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Throughout the year, Buddhists celebrate many special days and festivals. Although these festivals are celebrated differently everywhere, the purpose of celebrating these days is not forgotten and is the same for everyone; Buddhists remember that these days are to celebrate the Buddha, and to celebrate the Buddhist community. There are many Buddhist festivals that are celebrated around the world, but the three main festivals are, the Buddhist New Year, Vesak, and Magha Puja Day.
The first main festival that Buddhists celebrate is the Buddhist New Year. For Buddhists in Mahayana countries like, China, Korea, and Vietnam, the New Year celebrates the start of spring and the start of new life, and it’s celebrated at the end of January or the beginning of February. In Vietnam, families prepare for the New Year by cleaning the house and cooking traditional foods like sticky rice, and dried young bamboo soup. The first day of the New Year includes visiting the homes of family and friends, ancestral worshipping, giving New Year’s greetings, and giving lucky money to children and elderly people. On New Year’s people fill the streets to have a parade and make lots of noise with firecrackers, drums, and bells to get rid of the evil spirits. After the parade, families and friends come together to eat and share happiness of the New Year with each other. In Theravada countries like, Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos, The New Year is called “Losar” and it is celebrated differently. The New Year is celebrated for three days in April starting on the day of the first moon. In India, braided pastries called khapse are placed on altars as offerings and a silk scarf (khata) is given to visiting friends and family. Families eat a special soup called guth...

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...order). In Thailand, Buddhists gather at temples after dark with incense, flowers, and candles. After they light the candles, they go around the temple’s main hall three times, once for each of the Thee Jewels of Buddhism: the Buddha, the Sangha, and the Dharma; these three things are what Buddhists look to for guidance. Celebrations vary from country to country, but most include meditation, chanting, lighting oil lamps, and reaffirming people’s commitment to the Buddhist practice.
Therefore, the most important Buddhist festivals are the Buddhist New Year, Vesak Day, and Magha Puja Day. These celebrations all include spending time with family and friends and going to the temple to worship the Buddha. Although the way these festivals are celebrated differently by Buddhists all over the world, the reason why it’s celebrated is remembered and is the same for everyone.

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