UNITED NATIONS VESAK DAY 2017

14th United Nations International Vesak Festival.

     14th UN International Vesak Festival to be held in Sri Lanka. This year’s theme of the UN International Vesak Festival is "Buddhist Teachings for Social Justice and Sustainable World Peace". The festival will be held from May 12th to 14th.

         This United Nations Day of Vesak is celebrated annually in Buddhist countries. This is the first time Sri Lanka has been given the opportunity to host this festival.

         Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be renewing his links with Buddhism when he visits Sri Lanka as one of the chief guests at the United Nations Vesak Festival. Vesak is the most important day in the Buddhist calendar, marks commemoration of Lord Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and passing away.

        Minister of Justice and Buddha Sasana, Wijayadasa Rajapakshe, said that several heads of government and state have been invited for the landmark event recognized by the UN, and that Modi has confirmed his participation. Modi has a strong bond with Buddhism and had made Gujarat a part of the Buddhist pilgrimage trail in India when he was Chief Minister of that state.

       Vesak was declared as an Internationally recognized day by the UN following efforts by the Foreign Minister at the time Lakshman Kadiragamar in 1999.

       According to a statement issued by the ministry, the inauguration of the 14th UN Vesak day will take place at the BMICH with President Maithripala Sirisena, Indian President Narendra Modi and a host of other national and international delegates participating. Over 2000 delegates including Buddhist and political leaders from several countries will attend the event.

       On May 11 at 7 pm the festival will be launched at the special Vesak zone at Diyawanna near the Parliament complex.

       The concluding ceremony will take place at the Sri Dalada Maligawa premises in Kandy. Minister Rajapakshe on behalf of President Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe made an official request from the UN Vesak Committee at the last UN Vesak day held in Thailand for the hosting of the festival in Sri Lanka in 2017.

Previous UN Vesak Day celebrations

 

The 1st International Buddhist Conference on the United Nations Day of Vesak was on May 25, 2004 in Thailand.

The 2nd UN day of Vesak was held on May 18th to 21st, 2005 at Sanamluang, Buddhamothon and United Nations Centre for the Pacific.

The 3rd UN day of Vesak celebration was held on May 7th - 10th, 2006, at the United Nations for Asia Pacific Hall and Buddhamonthon in Bangkok, Thailand.

The 4th UN day of Vesak was held on May 26th to 29th, 2007. It was solemnly held at the United Nations Hall for Asia Pacific and Buddhamonthon in Bangkok with the participants from 61 countries and regions.

The 4th United Nations Day of Vesak (UNDV) was held in Hanoi, Vietnam from May 13-17th in 2008. This was the first ever biggest International Buddhist conference that was held in Vietnam.

The 5th celebrations drew a gathering of 4,500-including Buddhist leaders from all traditions, leading scholars, state dignitaries and practitioners from all around the world, and in Vietnam.

The 6th UN day of Vesak was held on May 18th to 19th, 2009 in Bangkok and at the Phutthamonthon in Nakhon Pathom.

The 7th UN day of Vesak was held on May 23th – 25th, 2010, at the Conference Hall of the Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University, Main Campus, Wang Noi, Ayutthaya and United Nations Conference Centre, Bangkok, Thailand .

The 8th UN day of Vesak was held on May 12th – 14th, 2011, at the Conference Hall Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University, Main Campus, Wang Noi, Ayutthaya and United Nations Conference Centre, Bangkok, Thailand.

The 9th UN day of Vesak was held on May 31st to June 2nd, 2012, at the Conference Hall Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University, Main Campus, Wang Noi, Ayutthaya and United Nations Conference Centre, Bangkok, Thailand.

The 10th UN day of Vesak was held on May 21th - 22th, 2013. at the United Nations Conference Centre, Bangkok, Thailand.

The 11th UN day of Vesak was held on May 7th to 11th, 2014. At Cat Bai Dinh temple, Ninh Binh, Vietnam.

The 12th UN day of Vesak was held on May 28th - 30th, 2015 at Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University (MCU), Wang Noi, Ayutthaya and United Nations Convention Centre Bangkok, Thailand.

The 13th UN day of Vesak was held on May 22nd to 23rd, 2016 at the Conference Hall Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University, Main Campus, Wang Noi, Ayutthaya and United Nations Conference Centre, Bangkok, Thailand.

The 14th UN day of Vesak will be held on May 12th to 14th, 2017 in Colombo and Kandy at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall, the Nelum Pokuna, Diyatha Uyana and the Sri Dalada Maligava in Kandy.

See Also

Vesak Festival
http://www.unvesak2017.org
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vesak
http://www.un.org/en/events/vesakday

Vesak Festival in Sri Lanka

Official name:    Vesak (Sinhalese), Vesākha (Pāli), Vaisākha (Sanskrit)
Type of Festival:   Religious celebration
Featured in religions:   Buddhism
Significance:   The birth, enlightenment and death of Gautama Buddha
Frequency:   annual
Also called:   Buddha's Birthday or Buddha Day

    Vesak is a religious and cultural colorful festival in Sri Lanka. It is celebrated on the day of the full moon in the month of May.

    Vesak Day is one of the important days of the year and is celebrated by Buddhists all over the world. Buddhists commemorate the important events that took place in the life of Lord Buddha on this day. First comes the birth of Siddhartha Gautama in Lumbini in Nepal which took place under the arbor of Sat trees where queen Mahamaya gave birth to him. The second event was Siddharta Gautam’s supreme attainment as the Buddha, the Enlightened One. The third event was Lord Buddha’s Parinibbana over 2500 years ago at Kusinagar. These three events have deep impact on the culture and heritage of Sri Lanka.

The third event was Lord Buddha’s

    Sri Lankans gathered in religious temples, prepare special food items, engage in charity works, and share the words of wisdom and joy with each other. Houses, public places, and shops are decorated with lights, pandols and colorful lanterns on this day.

    The birth of Siddhartha was the beginning of a journey where young Siddhartha found the ultimate truth after years of deep meditation at the age of thirty five. He became the Gautama Buddha and taught millions of people the way of peace and serenity.

Many religious activities are organized during this period in Sri Lanka such as Sil campaigns, Bodhi Poojas, Dansalas (Freely giving foods, coffee, tea from people), Vesak devotional songs (Bakthi Gee), pandols (thoran) and lanterns.

 

 

 

 

 

Birth of Siddharta Gautam

    The Siddharth or lord Buddha, the divine creature inquired about five affairs before expiring for the final birth. The inquiries are the: right time, right area, right continent, right caste and right mother.

    Then, as any Buddhists know, the fully mindful divine being entered the womb of Queen Mahamaya. A prince was born on a Vesak Poya day to the Queen and King Suddhodana and was named Siddhartha, one who has found meaning of existence. The Queen passed away seven days after the prince’s birth.

Birth of Siddharta Gautam

 Attainment as Lord Buddha

    Gautama Buddha was trained in various mental skills under many teachers, only to get disillusioned that they do not have the truth he looked for. The right way to achieve the truth dawned on him one day. He directed his mind in the path of meditation. Moments later he reached enlightenment and conquered the world of sorrows on Vesak Poya day.

Attainment as Lord Buddha

 Lord Buddha’s Parinibbana

      80-year old Gotama Buddha then announced His passing away, Parinibbana, would take place on the third watch of the night at Sal grove of Malla royal family, and it happened to be a Vesak Poya day.

Lord Buddha’s Parinibbana

Vesak Pandols (Thorana) in Sri Lanka

Vesak Pandols

       In Vesak Season in electrically lit Vesak pandols called thoranas are erected island wide at public places, being mostly sponsored by donors, religious societies and welfare groups. Each pandol illustrates a story from the 550 ‘Jathaka Katha’ or the 548 Past Life Stories of the Buddha.

Vesak Lanterns in Sri Lanka

Vesak Lanterns

    Vesak lanterns called Vesak koodu are lit in most of the homes in Sri Lanka on Vesak poya day. The lighting signifies an offering to the memory of the Buddha who delivered the message of Dhamma. In ancient times, people used their clay oil lamps for illumination. When candles became popular, colourful lanterns were made in different shapes and colours were used. Many associations arrange competitions on Vesak lanterns with the creators of the most beautiful lanterns being awarded valuable prizes.

Vesak devotional songs (Bakthi Gee, Bhakthi Geetha)

      "Vesak Bhakthi Geetha" are songs dedicated to the Buddha specially sung during the month of May. They are also called singing devotional songs about the Buddha to celebrate the birth  enlightenment and passing away of the Buddha.