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Buddha Purnima is also known as the Buddha Jayanti
This celebrated by the Buddhists
Buddha Purnima is celebrated on the full moon day of Vaishakha
Significance
Gautama Buddha is considered as the 9th incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Buddha Purnima is considered to be the holiest day in the life of Gautama Buddha. On this day he celebrated his birthday, his enlightenment day and his death anniversary as all these took place in the month of Vaishakha. He was one of the greatest religious teachers of mankind in India. Edwin Arnold has named him as "Light of Asia". Whatever he used to teach, his teaching use to travel far away and used to win the hearts and minds of thousands people across the universe. He analyzed the basic problem of the human suffering and depression.
Lord Buddha was son of Queen Mayadevi; she gave him birth while having a bath in Pushkami pool at Lumbini garden. Legends said that immediately after his birth he was able to speak and he told his mother that he has just come to free all the mankind from pain. He could even stand and also started walking; he walked for a short distance in all four corners of the room. His parents named his miraculous boy as Siddhartha and this means "a person who has achieved all his goals". But unfortunately his mother Queen Mayadevi died after 7 days of his birth.
In the town of Gaya, he decided to sit under a fig tree unless and until he gets the answer for human suffering. He sat under this tree for several days, 1st in concentration to clear his distractions, in meditation and finally he opened his mind to truth. One day finally he got answers to all his questions on human sufferings and became a Buddha that means "a man who is awake".
Buddha attained the supreme enlighten under the fig tree and later at the age of 80 he passed away in Parinivana and on the same day on which he was born.
Celebration of Buddha Purnima
Buddha Purnima is celebrated with great enthusiasm at the place where Buddha was born at Bodh Gaya. There are thousands of pilgrims who visit this place on the occasion of Buddha Purnima. On this day people attend prayers, group meditation, procession, continuous recitation of Scriptures and religious discourses. People respect the statues of Buddha. Temples are decorated all over the country on this occasion. On this auspicious day Buddha had taken a bath and wore only white color clothes.
Traditional food
On this auspicious day Buddhists prepare traditional food to celebrate this fortunate day. Dishes prepared on this day are kheer, rice pudding and payasam.
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