On the eighth day of the fourth lunar month, Buddhists around the world celebrate Buddha's birthday. It is believed that it was on this day that the revered prince was born, who later left his home, achieved enlightenment and became the founder of Buddhism.
The birthday of Buddha or, as it is also called, Vesak, symbolizes the birth, enlightenment and death of the patron saint of religious teachings. In each country, this sacred holiday is held with its own distinctive features, but there are also the main features of its celebration.
On this day, festive services are held in the temples, charitable dinners are arranged, the obligatory treat of which is tea. Buddhists from all over the world gather there to pray for the health of their relatives and friends, to ask the Buddha for good luck in life and prosperity. They meditate, give alms to all those in need, and arrange colorful processions along the main streets of the city.
Around temples and monasteries on a holiday, solemn processions move in honor of Buddha, drachma and sanga - the main jewels of Buddhism. And on the squares, theatrical performances are held, the plots of which are the moments of the mythological biography of the founder of the religious movement.
Buddhists wash the Buddha statues, accompanying this action with beautiful national music performed by the local orchestra. Very often, the statues are washed with water flowing onto them from the mouth of the dragon's head. This symbolizes the obligatory cleansing of the soul from various negative emotions by following the teachings of the Buddha.
A special place in the celebration of the Master's birthday is occupied by lanterns, symbolizing the enlightenment that descended on the Buddha. On this day, you can find a great variety of them on the streets of the city. In preparation for the holiday, residents hang colored lanterns of various shapes and sizes along the streets. And on Buddha's birthday, they carry them in their hands during festive processions and launch them into the sky at dusk. Lanterns are made from paper, cloth and other materials, and depending on the picture on the lantern, they can mean health, a rich harvest, happiness or longevity.
Also, the streets of the city are decorated with fresh flowers, bright ribbons and other colorful attributes. And the Buddhists themselves walk only with a smile on their face, because Buddha, according to legend, was an open and cheerful person.
