Wesak - celebrating the Buddha

Wesak is a festival that celebrates the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha during the full moon in May.

Though going to temple is not a necessity in Buddhism, many Buddhists take sill (meditation, reading religious books and listening to scriptures) dressed in white.The objective is to rid the mind of impure thoughts and the body of impure habits. People give food and other donations to the needy, offer flowers and incense and listen to monks chanting the Sutra (teachings) and giving sermons.

Wesak is a colourful festival with houses, schools and other public buildings adorned with white and brightly coloured lanterns. These lanterns are made from tissue paper and bamboo and are mostly an octagonal shape. Making lanterns is a major activity in schools and pre-schools. Children love it.The lanterns are generally lit by candles inside.

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