Wesak Day is a Buddhist festival held to commemorate the life of the founder of their teachings, Siddhartha Gautama Buddha, in his essential stages, which are his birth in Lumbini, the attainment of great enlightenment after a long period of asceticism and his death in Kusinara.
This festival is celebrated on different dates according to each country. However, this festival is widely celebrated throughout South, Southeast and East Asia between April and late June. In Malaysia, it is usually celebrated in May.
For those of you who want to know more about this Wesak or Vesak Day, stay with us until the end of this article, and we will explain Vesak Day in detail to you.
What is Wesak Day?
Wesak or Vesak, in short, is a celebration to symbolize the Birth, Great Enlightenment and Death of Gautama Buddha, the teacher or symbol of Buddhism. The celebration of this wesak day usually falls in May; this is because the word ‘Wesak’ or ‘Vesak’ itself means the fifth month in the Lunar calendar; however, due to the diversity of Buddhist culture, this festival is celebrated on a different date with the traditions that further according to each country.
Buddhists will celebrate Wesak Day by decorating their temples with flowers and other decorations. They will also gather at temples in the morning to raise the banner of Buddhism while chanting to strengthen the Three Jewels, the pillars of their faith, namely Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha.
Visitors will also present simple gifts such as flowers, candles and plugs at the feet of their Great Master statues; flowers that quickly wither as quickly as candles and plugs burn out, symbolizing the shortness of human life that must be remembered.
Wesak Day will also be celebrated with charity work and good deeds by Buddhists; they are also forbidden to kill any kind of life, which is why, on that day, they are encouraged not to eat meat or other animals.
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When is Vesak Day?
Malaysia is a multi-racial, religious, and ethnic country. Every festival, especially one involving Malaysia’s four most prominent religions, namely Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Christianity, will be a public holiday.
In Malaysia, as informed in the previous section, Wesak Day is usually celebrated in May, so next year, in 2024, Vesak will be celebrated on 22 May 2024 (Wednesday). All states in Malaysia will be given a public holiday in conjunction with Wesak.
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