Vesak is when Buddhists in Shepparton and across Australia come together and recollect the Lord Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and passing. Vesak is an international celebration and listed among UN Observances. Buddhism is one of the world’s oldest philosophies of non-violence and has practiced peaceful relations for over 2600 years. In this day and age, Buddhism continues fostering of world peace. There will be a celebration of Vesak in Queens Gardens, Shepparton, on Saturday, 29 May 2021.
At Vesak Buddhists commemorate the birth of the Buddha-to-be, Siddhattha Gautama, his Enlightenment at the age of 35 when he became the Buddha and his final ‘passing’ into Nirvana at the age of 80, no more to be reborn. Buddhist scriptures relate that each of these three significant events occurred on a full moon of the Indian lunar month of Vesakha.
Traditionally, his birth is supposed to have been in 623 BC but the Buddhist calendar is counted from his final passing, eighty years later. The older tradition of Vesak is to celebrate all three events but there are some more recent Buddhist schools and groups that celebrate just the birth and others only the Enlightenment.
This is a multicultural Vesak Celebration shared by Victoria’s vibrant and diverse Buddhist cultures and languages, traditions and forms of practice – including from the Burmese, Cambodian, Chinese, Indian, Japanese, Karen, Korean, Laotian, Malaysian, Mongolian, Thai, Tibetan, Sri Lankan, Taiwanese and Vietnamese communities. Leaders from Shepparton’s Buddhist and Multicultural communities will also join in the commemoration as the Vesak message of peace is echoed in every faith.
Vesak will be observed in Queens Park, Shepparton, and has been sponsored by the City of Greater Shepparton, People Supporting People, City of Greater Shepparton, the Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District, Victorian Multicultural Commission and the Shepparton Interfaith Network.
What: Vesak Celebration
When: Saturday, 29 May at 5:30PM
Where: Queens Gardens – Crn Wyndham St & Nixon St Shepparton
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More Information: Sam Atukorala, 5831 2395
