Vesak 2026

Vesak (Buddha Day) commemorates the birth, enlightenment and passing of the Buddha on the full moon of the ancient month of Vesakha, usually in May — the most sacred day of the Buddhist calendar, kept with temple offerings, lanterns and acts of generosity. Because Buddhist traditions follow different lunar calendars, the date is not the same everywhere: this countdown follows Sri Lanka's Vesak Full Moon Poya Day, the Theravada reckoning behind the name adopted by the World Fellowship of Buddhists in 1950 and behind the United Nations' Day of Vesak. Thailand and Vietnam usually observe within a day of it, while India's Buddha Purnima can fall weeks earlier.

For the full story — history, meaning, traditions, foods and FAQs — see the Vesak guide.