Have you ever wondered how people celebrate Buddha’s Birthday in different countries? It’s a special day for many, full of traditions, kindness, and peace.
In this article, you’ll learn about the celebrations in Korea, China, and Japan, and what makes each one different.
Here’s what you’ll find:
- When Buddha’s Birthday is celebrated
- Fun activities, like lantern festivals and special foods
- Important rituals, like bathing Buddha statues
Keep reading to see how Buddha’s Birthday brings people together.
1. Buddha’s Birthday in Koreas
Time & Location: In Korea, Buddha’s Birthday follows the lunar calendar. It is on the eighth day of the fourth lunar month. In 2025, this is May 6.
In South Korea, it is a national holiday. People use several names for this day:
- “Bucheonim Osin Nal” (meaning “the day when Buddha came”)
- “Seokga Tansinil” (meaning “Buddha’s Birthday”)
- “Chopail” (meaning “the first eighth day” in the lunar month)
In North Korea, it is sometimes a public holiday. The government decides close to the day. But even when it is not official, Buddhists still celebrate. The festival has been part of Korean culture for centuries, long before the country was split into North and South.
Event Details: In South Korea, people all over the country enjoy Buddha’s Birthday. It is a time for both religious respect and community fun.
Colorful lotus lanterns are seen in temples, streets, and homes. They are made of paper and often shaped like lotus flowers. Each lantern has a small tag where people write their names and a wish.
The biggest celebration is the Yeondeunghoe Lantern Festival in Seoul. Thousands of people walk in a parade, carrying bright lanterns. This event is beautiful to see and brings people together. The lights show the hope and teachings of Buddha.
Many temples offer free meals and tea to everyone who visits. A popular dish served is sanchae bibimbap, a bowl of rice with mixed vegetables. Visitors can also enjoy games, rope jumping, and traditional performances like mask dances and tightrope walking.
Buddha’s Birthday is also known as the Lantern Festival in many countries. In Korea, people of all beliefs often take part in the fun and peaceful mood of the day.
In North Korea, the festival is still observed in Buddhist temples. In 1988, the celebration began again. In 2018, monks from both North and South Korea joined in a shared service. This showed a moment of peace, although these visits have paused in recent years.
Sometimes, the holiday also becomes a time for remembering sad events. After the Sewol ferry disaster, people added messages for the victims to their lanterns. That year, the festival was more quiet and serious. People came together to pray and show respect.
2. Buddha’s Birthday in China
Time & Location: In China, the celebration of Buddha’s Birthday is based on the lunar calendar, so the date changes each year. The festival typically falls in April or May, depending on when the eighth day of the fourth lunar month occurs.
Buddha’s Birthday is an important event in many Buddhist communities across China, Hong Kong, and Macau.
In Hong Kong, Buddha’s Birthday is a public holiday, designated as such since 1999. In Macau, it is also observed as a public holiday with similar traditions.
Event Details: In China, people celebrate Buddha’s Birthday with a special bathing ceremony. They pour sweet-smelling water over a statue of baby Buddha. One hand points to the sky, the other to the ground.
A story says that when he was born, he said this would be his last life. Dragons from the sky poured water on him. Today, people still do this to feel clean inside.
In Hong Kong, people light lanterns to show Buddha’s wisdom. Many visit temples to pray and bathe the Buddha statue. This is believed to wash away bad energy. People also eat vegetarian food. This helps clean both the body and the mind.
The biggest celebration in Hong Kong is at Po Lin Monastery on Lantau Island, where the large Big Buddha statue stands. Other famous places are the Chi Lin Nunnery and the 10,000 Buddhas Monastery. At Victoria Park, there is a big festival. People enjoy vegetarian food, games, parades, and other Buddhist activities like sutra copying and bathing the Buddha.
In Macau, all Buddhist temples take part in a ceremony called Lung Wa Wui. In this ritual, people bathe the Buddha statue with Five Scented Waters. It is believed this helps purify the soul.
See Also Traditional Holidays in Vietnam
3. Buddha’s Birthday in Japan
Time & Location: In Japan, Buddha’s Birthday is celebrated on April 8. This is based on the Gregorian calendar, which Japan started using in 1873. Some places in Okinawa still celebrate it on the eighth day of the fourth lunar month, according to the Chinese lunar calendar.
Event Details: Buddha’s Birthday in Japan is called Kanbutsu-e or Hanamatsuri, which means flower festival. It is celebrated at Buddhist temples. On this day, a special flower hall is created, decorated with colorful flowers.
A small Buddha statue is placed in a bowl of water. People pour sweet tea over the statue’s head as a way of bathing the baby Buddha. This tradition is part of the Kambutsu-e festival, which recreates the moment Buddha was born in Lumbini.
The custom of bathing the Buddha started in China and was brought to Japan in 606. Today, temples hold ceremonies like Gōtan-e, Busshō-e, Yokubutsu-e, Ryūge-e, and Hana-eshiki.
A fun part of the celebration in Japan is lion dancing, which has become a major tradition. Although Buddha’s Birthday is not a national holiday, it is still an important day for many people, with temples hosting special ceremonies and events.
4. Buddha’s Birthday in South and Southeast Asia
Chibili Mugala
Time & Location: In South and Southeast Asia, Buddha’s Birthday is celebrated on the full moon of the second lunar month. This day is called Vesakha or Vaisakha. It is also known as Buddha Purnima, which means “Full Moon Day.”
Event Details: In India and Nepal, many people visit the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya, where Buddha became enlightened. They pray under the bodhi tree. People also remember the story of Sujata, who gave Buddha a bowl of milk porridge. On this day, they serve sweet rice porridge to honor her.
In Malaysia and China, people set free birds and animals as a way to earn good karma.
In Sri Lanka, Buddha’s Birthday is called Vesak. It is a public holiday on the first full moon day of May. People decorate homes and streets with candles, paper lanterns, and bamboo lanterns. They also offer food and drinks for free in a tradition called Dansalas.
People sing Bakthi Gee, a type of devotional song. Pandols, which are special decorative gateways, are set up. Temples hold celebrations, and people bring offerings and burn incense. Electric light displays show stories from Buddha’s life.
In Vietnam, Buddha’s Birthday is called Lễ Phật Đản or Ngày Hội Hoa Phật (Buddha’s Lord Flower Festival Day). It is celebrated in many parts of the country. Buddhist temples hold events and pagodas are decorated.
From 1958 to 1975, Buddha’s Birthday was a public holiday in South Vietnam. During that time, there were floats and lantern parades. Today, the festival is still celebrated, but it is no longer a public holiday.
Buddha’s Birthday: A Recap
Buddha’s Birthday is a meaningful day for people to remember the Buddha’s teachings. It is a time for prayers, rituals, and acts of kindness that show the values of Buddhism.
From bathing Buddha statues to lively festivals, the day is a chance to reflect and grow spiritually. It is more than just a celebration; it is a way to connect with others and spread peace. Buddha’s Birthday helps people remember the Buddha’s wisdom and create special moments together.