2565th Buddha Jayanti being marked today

KATHMANDU, May 26: Today is Baisakh Shukla Purnima as per the lunar calendar or 2565th Buddha Jayanti – the day of the birth of Lord Buddha. The special full moon day is being celebrated by offering homage to Siddhartha Gautam who is believed to be the ninth incarnation of Lord Bishnu. 

On the day, Buddhists from Nepal and other parts of the globe offer their heartfelt homage and devotion to Buddha who got his birth, enlightenment and death on the same day today in the lunar calendar. 

Due to COVID-19 pandemic this year, no formal programmes have been organized on the Buddha Jayanti. With the enforcement of prohibitory orders to protect lives from coronavirus infection, the Buddhist monks, preachers and meditators living in the shrines and monasteries are observing the day by offering peace prayers and worship. 

The monks, Lama preachers and followers are scheduled to offer worship and illuminate butter lamps at the Mayadevi Temple – the birthplace of Buddha in the evening today, shared vice-chairperson of Lumbini Development Trust monk Metteya. 

The offerings would be made by fully adhering to the health safety protocol of maintaining physical and social distance to prevent and control the spread of coronavirus, the Trust sources said. 

Trust’s member-secretary Sanuraja Shakya said the 2565th lamp illumination would be offered in Pushkarani Pond on the Mayadevi Temple premises wishing for nirvana (a state of freedom from all sufferings) of those who died due to coronavirus infection. 

Lord Buddha is popular as an apostle of peace and Asian Star across the globe. He had preached peace, non-violence, fraternity and compassion through his eight-fold path. Buddha was said to have delivered his spiritual speeches for 84,000 times in his 80-year life span which are documented in the books ‘Binaya’, ‘Sutta’, ‘Abhidamma’ and ‘Tripitaka’. 

Born as a prince to King Shuddhodan and Queen Mayadevi in Lumbini of Rupandehi, Buddha got enlightenment at the age of 35 and gained global popularity as a Lord Buddha.