Visakha Puja Day
Student: What is the meaning of Visakha Puja sir?
Teacher: It means paying homage to the Buddha on the full moon day of Visakha month, the sixth lunar month.Student: Why do we do this Puja sir?
Teacher: We do this Puja to commemorate the birth of the Buddha, his enlightenment, and his passing away on the full moon day of this month. This is why we call this “Visakha Puja Day.”
Student: Please give some details, sir.
Teacher: It commemorates the three events of the Buddha’s own life:
1. The Buddha was born on the full moon Day of the sixth lunar month in the beautiful garden of Lumbini, on the border of Kapilavastu city and Devadaha city, near the present Indo-Nepalese border.
2. The Buddha realized Enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree on the full moon day of the sixth lunar month thirty-five years after his birth.
3. The Buddha passed away on the full moon day of the sixth lunar month under the Sala trees in the forest near Kusinara city, forty –five years after realizing enlightenment, at the age of eighty. These three events happened on the same day. This day is known as the day of coincidence of birth, Enlightenment, and Death of the Buddha.
Student: Which countries is Visakha Puja observed by Buddhists?
Teacher: Visakha Puja is observed by Buddhists China, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, England, the Soviet union, United state, and Canada, so on.
Student: What do Buddhists do on Visakha Puja evening ?
Teacher: They assemble in the monastery grounds, bringing with the flowers,Lighted candles, and incense stick. The repeat words of homage recited by a monk.
Then they march in procession around the Uposatha hall, (the main chapel). The keep their right side towards the hall as assigns of respect and makes three rounds around the hall. While they are walked they remember the virtue of the Buddha, the dhamma, and Sangha. This is what we also do at the temple every year on Visakha Puja.
From Buddhism for young students