Religious observancePublic holiday
Buddha Jayanti
बुद्ध जयन्ती
Buddha Jayanti marks the birth, enlightenment and parinirvana of Gautam Buddha — all three said to have happened on the same lunar day. It falls on the full moon of Baisakh (April–May).
Significance
The Buddha was born in Lumbini in present-day Nepal in 563 BCE. The day is a national holiday and particularly important in Buddhist communities across the Himalaya.
How it is celebrated
Pilgrimages to Lumbini and Boudhanath. Monasteries hold special prayers and processions. Many families eat vegetarian food and visit stupas.