"Buddha Jayanti"

#13057220

4 December 2025

Members of Nepal's Kirat community take part in the mass celebration of the Sakela-Udhauli festival in Lalitpur, Nepal, on December 4, 2025. Hundreds of Kirati community members gather in Lalitpur, dancing and praying to the god with the onset of the harvest festival, which is also known as Udhauli. Kirant men and women clad in traditional attire observe the festival by beating drums, cymbals, imitating the activities of birds and other animals, and exchanging greetings with each other. This festival is celebrated by worshiping land and ancestors in hopes of getting better crops, health, and property. Kirat Mundhum, the holy book of Kirat, mentions that the year of 365 days is divided into two phases: Ubhauli (going up) and Udhauli (going down). In old days, people move uphill and downhill during these seasons. Ubhauli is celebrated every year on Baishak Sulka Purnima, on the same day as Buddha Purnima/Buddha Jayanti in the Nepali month of Baishak (April-May). Traditionally, during the summer, the Kirat people move uphill to avoid the heat and malaria. They perform Ubhauli rituals before they move and during that, they worship their ancestors and nature for better health and crops. Traditionally, the Kirat people climb up to the mountains in summer to avoid the heat and malaria (epidemic) after performing the Ubhauli rituals. During these traditional rituals, they worship their ancestors and nature, seeking better wealth and crops. At the start of winter, with similar rituals for Udhauli, they move down the hill.

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#12411470

26 May 2025

Buddhist monks bathe statues of the Child Buddha during the festival of Vesak in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. Vesak, also known as Wesak, is the most important of the Buddhist festivals and is commonly known as Lord Buddha's birthday celebration. It marks the birth, enlightenment, and death of Lord Buddha. This festival is the largest Buddhist gathering in Canada.

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#12411800

26 May 2025

A Buddhist woman bathes a statue of the Child Buddha during the festival of Vesak in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. Vesak, also known as Wesak, is the most important of the Buddhist festivals and is commonly known as Lord Buddha's birthday celebration, marking the birth, enlightenment, and death of Lord Buddha. This festival is the largest Buddhist gathering in Canada.

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#12411779

26 May 2025

Sri Lankan Sinhalese Buddhist girls dress in traditional attire during the festival of Vesak in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. Vesak (Wesak) is the most important of the Buddhist festivals and is commonly known as Lord Buddha's birthday celebration, marking the birth, enlightenment, and death of Lord Buddha. This festival is the largest Buddhist gathering in Canada.

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#12411442

26 May 2025

A religious procession takes place during the festival of Vesak in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. Vesak, also known as Wesak, is the most important of the Buddhist festivals and marks the birth, enlightenment, and death of Lord Buddha. This festival is the largest Buddhist gathering in Canada.

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#12411462

26 May 2025

Buddhist monks and nuns from various Buddhist sects participate in the festival of Vesak in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. Vesak, also known as Wesak, is the most important of the Buddhist festivals and marks the birth, enlightenment, and death of Lord Buddha. This festival is the largest Buddhist gathering in Canada.

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#12411467

26 May 2025

A Sri Lankan Sinhalese Buddhist woman dresses in traditional attire during the festival of Vesak in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. Vesak, also known as Wesak, is the most important of the Buddhist festivals and marks the birth, enlightenment, and death of Lord Buddha. This festival is the largest Buddhist gathering in Canada.

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#12411481

26 May 2025

A Sri Lankan Sinhalese Buddhist youth dressed in traditional attire plays a tune on a small pipe during the festival of Vesak in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. Vesak, also known as Wesak, is the most important of the Buddhist festivals and marks the birth, enlightenment, and death of Lord Buddha. This festival is the largest Buddhist gathering in Canada.

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#12411501

26 May 2025

Sri Lankan Sinhalese Buddhists play a rhythmic tune on traditional drums as they participate in a religious procession during the festival of Vesak in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. Vesak, also known as Wesak, is the most important of the Buddhist festivals and marks the birth, enlightenment, and death of Lord Buddha. This festival is the largest Buddhist gathering in Canada.

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#12411503

26 May 2025

Buddhist monks and nuns from various Buddhist sects take part in a religious procession during the festival of Vesak in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. Vesak, also known as Wesak, is the most important of the Buddhist festivals and marks the birth, enlightenment, and death of Lord Buddha. This festival is the largest Buddhist gathering in Canada.

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#12411612

26 May 2025

Sri Lankan Sinhalese Buddhists play a rhythmic tune on traditional drums as they participate in a religious procession during the festival of Vesak in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. Vesak, also known as Wesak, is the most important of the Buddhist festivals and marks the birth, enlightenment, and death of Lord Buddha. This festival is the largest Buddhist gathering in Canada.

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#12411738

26 May 2025

Tibetan Buddhist monks participate in a religious procession during the festival of Vesak in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. Vesak, also known as Wesak, is the most important of the Buddhist festivals and is commonly known as Lord Buddha's birthday celebration, marking the birth, enlightenment, and death of Lord Buddha. This festival is the largest Buddhist gathering in Canada.

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#12411745

26 May 2025

Buddhist devotees participate in a religious procession during the festival of Vesak in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. Vesak, also known as Wesak, is the most important of the Buddhist festivals and is commonly known as Lord Buddha's birthday celebration, marking the birth, enlightenment, and death of Lord Buddha. This festival is the largest Buddhist gathering in Canada.

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#12411752

26 May 2025

Indian Buddhist supporters of Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar (Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar) participate in the festival of Vesak in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, on May 24, 2025. Vesak, commonly known as Lord Buddha's birthday celebration, marks the birth, enlightenment, and death of Lord Buddha. Dr. Ambedkar founds the Bharatiya Bauddha Mahasabha, or the Buddhist Society of India, in 1955 and later converts over 500,000 of his supporters to the Buddhist religion.

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#12411758

26 May 2025

Buddhist monks and nuns from various Buddhist sects take part in a religious procession during the festival of Vesak in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. Vesak, also known as Wesak, is the most important of the Buddhist festivals and marks the birth, enlightenment, and death of Lord Buddha. This festival is the largest Buddhist gathering in Canada.

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#12411761

26 May 2025

Buddhist monks and nuns from various Buddhist sects listen to prayers during the festival of Vesak in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. Vesak, also known as Wesak, is the most important of the Buddhist festivals and marks the birth, enlightenment, and death of Lord Buddha. This festival is the largest Buddhist gathering in Canada.

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