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Buddhists of The World Celebrate 'Vesak Festival'

Published May 19th, 2019 - 05:54 GMT

Buddha's birthday is a holiday traditionally celebrated in most of East Asia to commemorate the birth of the Prince Siddhartha Gautama, later the Gautama Buddha and founder of Buddhism.

Some Buddhists spend this occasion by praying in a local temple for the whole sacred day, but others may do good deeds, take part in chanting and meditation.

 

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A young Buddhist monk decorates a stupa with flowers during "Vesak" or Buddha Purnima to commemorate the 2,563rd birth anniversary of the Buddha, at the Maha Bodhi Society in Bangalore on May 18, 2019. MANJUNATH KIRAN / AFP

A young Buddhist monk decorates a stupa with flowers during "Vesak" or Buddha Purnima to commemorate the 2,563rd birth anniversary of the Buddha, at the Maha Bodhi Society in Bangalore on May 18, 2019. MANJUNATH KIRAN / AFP

Buddhist monk prays on the eve of Buddha's birthday also known as Vesak celebrations, at Borobudur temple in Magelang, Central Java province, on May 18, 2019. Buddhists are celebrating Vesak, which commemorates the birth of Buddha, his attaining enlightenment and his passing away on the full moon day of May which falls on May 18 this year. OKA HAMIED / AFP

Buddhist monk prays on the eve of Buddha's birthday also known as Vesak celebrations, at Borobudur temple in Magelang, Central Java province, on May 18, 2019. Buddhists are celebrating Vesak, which commemorates the birth of Buddha, his attaining enlightenment and his passing away on the full moon day of May which falls on May 18 this year. OKA HAMIED / AFP

Buddhist devotees pour water at Shwedagone pagoda during Buddha's birthday which falls on the Full Moon Day of Kasone in Yangon, on May 18, 2019. Sai Aung MAIN / AFP

Buddhist devotees pour water at Shwedagone pagoda during Buddha's birthday which falls on the Full Moon Day of Kasone in Yangon, on May 18, 2019. Sai Aung MAIN / AFP

Buddhists commemorate the birth of Buddha, his attaining enlightenment and death on the day of the full moon, which falls on May 18 this year. PRAKASH MATHEMA / AFP

Buddhists commemorate the birth of Buddha, his attaining enlightenment and death on the day of the full moon, which falls on May 18 this year. PRAKASH MATHEMA / AFP

Buddhist devotees carry water and flowers during Buddha's birthday in Mandalay, on May 18, 2019. Buddhists commemorate the birth of Buddha, his attaining enlightenment and death on the day of the full moon, which falls on May 18 this year. YE AUNG THU / AFP

Buddhist devotees carry water and flowers during Buddha's birthday in Mandalay, on May 18, 2019. Buddhists commemorate the birth of Buddha, his attaining enlightenment and death on the day of the full moon, which falls on May 18 this year. YE AUNG THU / AFP

Buddhist devotees release lanterns into the air as a symbol of peace to honour Buddha's birthday, also known as Vesak celebrations, at Borobudur temple in Magelang, Central Java, early on May 19 2019. OKA HAMIED / AFP

Buddhist devotees release lanterns into the air as a symbol of peace to honour Buddha's birthday, also known as Vesak celebrations, at Borobudur temple in Magelang, Central Java, early on May 19 2019. OKA HAMIED / AFP

A Cambodian boy lights candles during the Visak Bochea Buddhist celebration at a pagoda in Phnom Penh on May 18, 2019. TANG CHHIN Sothy / AFP

A Cambodian boy lights candles during the Visak Bochea Buddhist celebration at a pagoda in Phnom Penh on May 18, 2019. TANG CHHIN Sothy / AFP

Cambodian Buddhist monks carry an urn which allegedly contains the remains of one of Buddha's bone inside during the Visak Bochea Buddhist celebration at a pagoda in Phnom Penh on May 18, 2019. TANG CHHIN Sothy / AFP

Cambodian Buddhist monks carry an urn which allegedly contains the remains of one of Buddha's bone inside during the Visak Bochea Buddhist celebration at a pagoda in Phnom Penh on May 18, 2019. TANG CHHIN Sothy / AFP

Cambodian people throw to a dragon float during the Visak Bochea Buddhist celebration at a pagoda in Phnom Penh on May 18, 2019. TANG CHHIN Sothy / AFP

Cambodian people throw to a dragon float during the Visak Bochea Buddhist celebration at a pagoda in Phnom Penh on May 18, 2019. TANG CHHIN Sothy / AFP

Buddhist monks offer prayers as they go around a sacred Bodhi tree during "Vesak" or Buddha Purnima to commemorate the 2,563rd birth anniversary of the Buddha, at the Maha Bodhi Society in Bangalore on May 18, 2019. MANJUNATH KIRAN / AFP

Buddhist monks offer prayers as they go around a sacred Bodhi tree during "Vesak" or Buddha Purnima to commemorate the 2,563rd birth anniversary of the Buddha, at the Maha Bodhi Society in Bangalore on May 18, 2019. MANJUNATH KIRAN / AFP

Buddhist devotees visit Shwedagone pagoda during Buddha's birthday which falls on the Full Moon Day of Kasone in Yangon on May 18, 2019. Sai Aung MAIN / AFP

Buddhist devotees visit Shwedagone pagoda during Buddha's birthday which falls on the Full Moon Day of Kasone in Yangon on May 18, 2019. Sai Aung MAIN / AFP

A young Buddhist monk decorates a stupa with flowers during "Vesak" or Buddha Purnima to commemorate the 2,563rd birth anniversary of the Buddha, at the Maha Bodhi Society in Bangalore on May 18, 2019. MANJUNATH KIRAN / AFP
Buddhist monk prays on the eve of Buddha's birthday also known as Vesak celebrations, at Borobudur temple in Magelang, Central Java province, on May 18, 2019. Buddhists are celebrating Vesak, which commemorates the birth of Buddha, his attaining enlightenment and his passing away on the full moon day of May which falls on May 18 this year. OKA HAMIED / AFP
Buddhist devotees pour water at Shwedagone pagoda during Buddha's birthday which falls on the Full Moon Day of Kasone in Yangon, on May 18, 2019. Sai Aung MAIN / AFP
Buddhists commemorate the birth of Buddha, his attaining enlightenment and death on the day of the full moon, which falls on May 18 this year. PRAKASH MATHEMA / AFP
Buddhist devotees carry water and flowers during Buddha's birthday in Mandalay, on May 18, 2019. Buddhists commemorate the birth of Buddha, his attaining enlightenment and death on the day of the full moon, which falls on May 18 this year. YE AUNG THU / AFP
Buddhist devotees release lanterns into the air as a symbol of peace to honour Buddha's birthday, also known as Vesak celebrations, at Borobudur temple in Magelang, Central Java, early on May 19 2019. OKA HAMIED / AFP
A Cambodian boy lights candles during the Visak Bochea Buddhist celebration at a pagoda in Phnom Penh on May 18, 2019. TANG CHHIN Sothy / AFP
Cambodian Buddhist monks carry an urn which allegedly contains the remains of one of Buddha's bone inside during the Visak Bochea Buddhist celebration at a pagoda in Phnom Penh on May 18, 2019. TANG CHHIN Sothy / AFP
Cambodian people throw to a dragon float during the Visak Bochea Buddhist celebration at a pagoda in Phnom Penh on May 18, 2019. TANG CHHIN Sothy / AFP
Buddhist monks offer prayers as they go around a sacred Bodhi tree during "Vesak" or Buddha Purnima to commemorate the 2,563rd birth anniversary of the Buddha, at the Maha Bodhi Society in Bangalore on May 18, 2019. MANJUNATH KIRAN / AFP
Buddhist devotees visit Shwedagone pagoda during Buddha's birthday which falls on the Full Moon Day of Kasone in Yangon on May 18, 2019. Sai Aung MAIN / AFP
A young Buddhist monk decorates a stupa with flowers during "Vesak" or Buddha Purnima to commemorate the 2,563rd birth anniversary of the Buddha, at the Maha Bodhi Society in Bangalore on May 18, 2019. MANJUNATH KIRAN / AFP
A young Buddhist monk decorates a stupa with flowers during "Vesak" or Buddha Purnima to commemorate the 2,563rd birth anniversary of the Buddha, at the Maha Bodhi Society in Bangalore on May 18, 2019. MANJUNATH KIRAN / AFP
Buddhist monk prays on the eve of Buddha's birthday also known as Vesak celebrations, at Borobudur temple in Magelang, Central Java province, on May 18, 2019. Buddhists are celebrating Vesak, which commemorates the birth of Buddha, his attaining enlightenment and his passing away on the full moon day of May which falls on May 18 this year. OKA HAMIED / AFP
Buddhist monk prays on the eve of Buddha's birthday also known as Vesak celebrations, at Borobudur temple in Magelang, Central Java province, on May 18, 2019. Buddhists are celebrating Vesak, which commemorates the birth of Buddha, his attaining enlightenment and his passing away on the full moon day of May which falls on May 18 this year. OKA HAMIED / AFP
Buddhist devotees pour water at Shwedagone pagoda during Buddha's birthday which falls on the Full Moon Day of Kasone in Yangon, on May 18, 2019. Sai Aung MAIN / AFP
Buddhist devotees pour water at Shwedagone pagoda during Buddha's birthday which falls on the Full Moon Day of Kasone in Yangon, on May 18, 2019. Sai Aung MAIN / AFP
Buddhists commemorate the birth of Buddha, his attaining enlightenment and death on the day of the full moon, which falls on May 18 this year. PRAKASH MATHEMA / AFP
Buddhists commemorate the birth of Buddha, his attaining enlightenment and death on the day of the full moon, which falls on May 18 this year. PRAKASH MATHEMA / AFP
Buddhist devotees carry water and flowers during Buddha's birthday in Mandalay, on May 18, 2019. Buddhists commemorate the birth of Buddha, his attaining enlightenment and death on the day of the full moon, which falls on May 18 this year. YE AUNG THU / AFP
Buddhist devotees carry water and flowers during Buddha's birthday in Mandalay, on May 18, 2019. Buddhists commemorate the birth of Buddha, his attaining enlightenment and death on the day of the full moon, which falls on May 18 this year. YE AUNG THU / AFP
Buddhist devotees release lanterns into the air as a symbol of peace to honour Buddha's birthday, also known as Vesak celebrations, at Borobudur temple in Magelang, Central Java, early on May 19 2019. OKA HAMIED / AFP
Buddhist devotees release lanterns into the air as a symbol of peace to honour Buddha's birthday, also known as Vesak celebrations, at Borobudur temple in Magelang, Central Java, early on May 19 2019. OKA HAMIED / AFP
A Cambodian boy lights candles during the Visak Bochea Buddhist celebration at a pagoda in Phnom Penh on May 18, 2019. TANG CHHIN Sothy / AFP
A Cambodian boy lights candles during the Visak Bochea Buddhist celebration at a pagoda in Phnom Penh on May 18, 2019. TANG CHHIN Sothy / AFP
Cambodian Buddhist monks carry an urn which allegedly contains the remains of one of Buddha's bone inside during the Visak Bochea Buddhist celebration at a pagoda in Phnom Penh on May 18, 2019. TANG CHHIN Sothy / AFP
Cambodian Buddhist monks carry an urn which allegedly contains the remains of one of Buddha's bone inside during the Visak Bochea Buddhist celebration at a pagoda in Phnom Penh on May 18, 2019. TANG CHHIN Sothy / AFP
Cambodian people throw to a dragon float during the Visak Bochea Buddhist celebration at a pagoda in Phnom Penh on May 18, 2019. TANG CHHIN Sothy / AFP
Cambodian people throw to a dragon float during the Visak Bochea Buddhist celebration at a pagoda in Phnom Penh on May 18, 2019. TANG CHHIN Sothy / AFP
Buddhist monks offer prayers as they go around a sacred Bodhi tree during "Vesak" or Buddha Purnima to commemorate the 2,563rd birth anniversary of the Buddha, at the Maha Bodhi Society in Bangalore on May 18, 2019. MANJUNATH KIRAN / AFP
Buddhist monks offer prayers as they go around a sacred Bodhi tree during "Vesak" or Buddha Purnima to commemorate the 2,563rd birth anniversary of the Buddha, at the Maha Bodhi Society in Bangalore on May 18, 2019. MANJUNATH KIRAN / AFP
Buddhist devotees visit Shwedagone pagoda during Buddha's birthday which falls on the Full Moon Day of Kasone in Yangon on May 18, 2019. Sai Aung MAIN / AFP
Buddhist devotees visit Shwedagone pagoda during Buddha's birthday which falls on the Full Moon Day of Kasone in Yangon on May 18, 2019. Sai Aung MAIN / AFP

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