Buddha Purnima 2018: Date and muhurat time in India for Vesak day

This year, the festival of Buddha Purnima falls on April 30, 2018. (Source: Getty Images)

The Vedic literature confirms that Lord Buddha is an incarnation of Lord Krishna (Vishnu) and hence, he appeared on this earth in some 2500 years ago to teach the message of non-violence and mercy towards all living creatures. The day of Buddha Purnima is celebrated as the day when he descended here. This sacred day is celebrated all over the world, across various countries in various ways, where people visit the holy shrines of Lord Buddha and pay their obeisance to him and offer him prayers. This year, the festival of Buddha Purnima falls on April 30, 2018.

On this day, people generally gather and offer him prayers and offerings. They absorb them in meditation and chant the mantras and scriptures associated with various sects of Buddhism. Some people observe a fast as it is combined with the full moon day (Purnima) and offer fruits and sweets to the deities of Lord Buddha. They light some incense and lamp before him and sit down to pray to him for peace, serenity and tranquillity.

Buddha Purnima is celebrated in countries like India, Nepal, Singapore, South Korea, Japan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar and Vietnam. Believed to be the birthplace of Buddha, devotees generally flock Gaya, Kushinagar and Sarnath to commemorate the religious occasion. A grand fair and a large procession is organised at Sarnath, which is believed to be the place where he conducted his first sermon. Devotees wear white clothes, pray, meditate and chant from the scriptures, following which, they make fruits and sweets’ offerings to the Buddha idols.

Puja Timings for Buddha Purnima

The timings for prevailing of Purnima Tithi are from 06:37 am on April 29 to 06:27 am on April 30, 2018. This is the time to offer worship to him.