May 10th Buddha's Birthday!

Well as you may today is May 10th..    And that might not mean anything special to the rest of the world, but here in asia it's a pretty big deal.  Since 1873 the 8th day of the 4th month of the Chinese Lunar calendar has been celebraated has Buddha's birthday.  This year it falls on May 10th.  

Some interesting facts, in nepal they celebrate Buddha's birthday for a whole month.  It's an offical holiday in Hong Kong..    In India Buddhist people will only eat vegitarian meals today..  In Korea many temples offer free meals to visitors and the temples are covered with lotus lanterns..    This is one of the major festivals in Sri Lanka, people decorate house and streets with candles and special lanterns..

In Tibet the festival is called Saga Dawa and it takes place in the entire fourth month of the Tibetan calendar.  Saga Dawa is the date of Buddha's birth and is celebrated on the seventh day.  Buddha's life is celebrated on the 15th, his birth, enlightenment and entry into Nirvana.  This is the most important holiday for Tibetan Buddhism, observed with vistits to temples, shrines and pilgrimages.