Buddha Purnima, also known as Vesak or Buddha Jayanti, is a major Buddhist festival commemorating three significant events in the life of Gautama Buddha: his birth, signifying the beginning of his journey towards enlightenment and the revelation of the path to liberation from suffering; his enlightenment under the Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya, India, symbolising profound insights into existence and the end of suffering; and his parinirvana, marking his ultimate release from the cycle of rebirth and suffering, representing the pinnacle of Buddhist aspiration.
It is a time for Buddhists to reflect on the life and teachings of the Buddha, cultivate inner peace, practice compassion, and recommit themselves to the path of enlightenment. It is a day of spiritual renewal, where people engage in acts of kindness, meditation, chanting, and visiting temples or monasteries.