Vesak, a most important Buddhist festival is known as either Vesak, Wesak or Buddha Day, and is celebrated annually on the full moon of the ancient lunar month of Vesakha, which usually falls in May, or in early June. There will be a celebration of Vesak in Queens Gardens, Shepparton, on Sunday, 3 May.
At Vesak Buddhists commemorate the birth of the Buddha-to-be, Siddhattha Gotama, 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.
Lanterns
If you would like to have a go at making your own Wesak lantern to hang in the gardens for the celebration, instructions are at this link http://studentlanka.com/2014/05/01/how-to-make-a-vesak-wesak-lantern-kudu-best-10-tutorials/
To hang your lantern in the Queens Gardens you will need to come down to the gardens (Crn of Wyndham St & Nixon St Shepparton) between 2:30pm and 3:00pm on Sunday 3 May — to have them hung.
What: Vesak Celebration
When: Sunday 3 May at 5:30PM
Where: Queens Gardens – Crn Wyndham St & Nixon St Shepparton
More information: Sam Atukorala, Ethnic Council 5831 2395
Download a Flyer for this event
A lotus lantern – as used at Vesak
