Journalism of Courage
How India and the world celebrated Buddha Purnima
1 / 18A young Buddhist devotee donates alms on Wesak Day, known as Buddha's birthday, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Saturday. Wesak Day, one of the holiest days for Buddhists, offers an opportunity for all followers to come together and celebrate not only Buddha's birthday, but also his enlightenment and achievement of nirvana. (Source:AP Photo)
You need a subscription to read this story. Get full access to Express Budget coverage, now with monthly plan tooAlready a subscriber? Sign In
This content is exclusive for our subscribers.Subscribe to get unlimited access to The Indian Express exclusive and premium stories.
2 / 18A monk offers prayers at a Buddhist temple on the occasion of the Buddha Purnima festival, also known as Vesak Day, in Kolkata. (Source: Reuters photo)
3 / 18Buddhists pray at the Suthat temple during Vesak Day, an annual celebration of Buddha's birth, enlightenment and death, in central Bangkok, Thailand. (Source: Reuters photo)
4 / 18Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama arrives to lead a prayer session to mark the middle of the Tibetan holy month of Sa-Ka-Dawa at the Tsuglakhang temple in Dharmsala, India, on Saturday. Tibetans celebrate Buddha's birth, enlightenment and death collectively on this day. (Source: AP Photo)
5 / 18A monk carries an idol of Buddha at a temple on the occasion of the Buddha Purnima festival, also known as Vesak Day, in Agartala. (Source: Reuters photo)
6 / 18Monks pray at Mahabodhi temple in Bodhgaya on 2560th birth anniversary of Lord Buddha. (Source: PTI Photo)
7 / 18Cambodian Buddhist monks climb the temple steps during a march returning the golden urn said to be holding Buddha's relics to Oudong, in Kandal province, some 40 kilometers (25 miles) northwest of Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Thousands of Cambodians joined a procession to return what they believe are Buddha's relics to a mountain-top shrine from where they were stolen three years ago. (Source: AP Photo)
8 / 18Bihar Governor Ram Nath Kovind inaugurating the Buddha Jayanti Celebrations at Mahabodhi Temple during the 2560th birth anniversary of Lord Buddha, at Bodhgaya in Bihar. (Source: PTI Photo)
9 / 18Devotees and monks perform rituals on Vesak Day or Buddha Day in Bodhgaya. (Source: PTI Photo)
10 / 18Buddhist monks and devotees offering prayers at Mahabodhi Temple in Bodhgaya on the ocassion of Buddha Jayanti celebrations on Saturday. (Source: PTI Photo)
11 / 18Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar playing a drum at Buddha Smriti Park on the occasion of Buddha Jayanti in Patna on Saturday. (Source: PTI Photo)
12 / 18A devotee offer flowers to Buddha statues at a temple during Buddha Purnima in Kolkata, on Saturday. The festival marks the triple events of Gautam Buddha's life: his birth, his enlightenment and his attaining a state of Nirvana that frees believers from the circle of death and rebirth. (Source: AP Photo)
13 / 18
14 / 18A Buddhist devotee holds an oil lamp as he prepares to offer prayers on Buddha's birthday, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Saturday. (Source: AP Photo)
15 / 18A Nepalese Buddhist devotee lights a butter lamp in a monastery during Buddha Jayanti, or Buddha Purnima festival in Kathmandu, Nepal, on Saturday. (Source: AP Photo)
16 / 18Buddhists carry candles while encircling the Suthat temple during Vesak Day, an annual celebration of Buddha's birth, enlightenment and death, in central Bangkok, Thailand. (Source: Reuters photo)
17 / 18Banners and Hoardings of Buddha was seen on the residential streets of Worli Naka. (Source: Express photo by Nirmal Harindran)
18 / 18Members of Bahujan Hitay Sangh along with Buddhist monks participate in the DHAMMA RALLY on the auspicious day of Vaishakh Purnima, from Rajagriha Hindu Colony Dadar to Chaitya bhumi on Saturday.(Source: Express photo by Prashant Nadkar)
