Buddhists around the world have celebrated Vesak, one of the most important days in the Buddhist calendar. Informally known as Buddha's birthday, it commemorates the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama. Buddhist scriptures state that each of these significant events occurred on the full moon of the Indian lunar month of Vesakha. Buddhists celebrate Vesak every year on the day of the full moon in May.
In Indonesia, celebrations were focused on the ancient Borobudur temple. Thousands of Buddhist monks gathered to meditate and circuit the temple in a ritual called "Pradaksina". Borobudur, built between the 8th and 9th century, is the world's largest Buddhist temple and a Unesco World Heritage Site. The temple is situated on a remote hilltop in Central Java surrounded by lush jungle and ringed by volcanoes, one of which – Mount Kelud – is still active.
Indonesian Buddhists release sky lanterns at Borobudur temple in Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia, during celebrations for Vesak DayUlet Ifanasti/Getty ImagesSky lanterns float over the Borobudur temple in Magelang during Vesak Day celebrationsSuryo Wibowo/AFPThe full moon is seen behind sky lanterns over Borobudur temple in Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia, during celebrations for Vesak DayUlet Ifanasti/Getty ImagesBuddhist monks walk past the Borobudur temple in Magelang, IndonesiaUlet Ifanasti/Getty ImagesA Buddhist monk prays at the Borobudur temple during celebrations for Vesak DayUlet Ifanasti/Getty ImagesAn Indonesian Buddhist lights candles at the Borobudur temple during celebrations for Vesak DayUlet Ifanasti/Getty ImagesA Buddhist meditates at Borobudur temple in IndonesiaUlet Ifanasti/Getty ImagesBuddhist monks take part in rituals at Borobudur temple during celebrations for Vesak DayUlet Ifanasti/Getty ImagesIndonesian Buddhist monks walk around the streets to collect alms from followersBuddhist monks walk past a Premier League mural in Magelang, Central JavaUlet Ifanasti/Getty ImagesA Buddhist monk receives alms from a child during a procession in Magelang, IndonesiaUlet Ifanasti/Getty ImagesBuddhist monks join a procession from Mendut temple to Borobudur temple in Magelang, Central Java, IndonesiaUlet Ifanasti/Getty Images
The birth of Buddha two-and-a-half millennia ago, in the year 623BC, was also celebrated in other countries with large Buddhist populations, such as Thailand, India and Nepal. IBTimes UK presents photos of celebrations of the important event – also known as Buddha Purnima and Buddha Jayanti.
A monkey sits on an idol of Buddha during celebrations of Vesak Day in Kathmandu, NepalNavesh Chitrakar/ReutersA woman carries a tray filled with butter lamps in Kathmandu, NepalNavesh Chitrakar/ReutersNepalese Buddhists offer prayers at Swayambhunath in KathmanduPrakash Mathema/AFPA Nepalese Buddhist monk performs rituals after lighting oil lamps in KathmanduPrakash Mathema/AFPBuddhist priests wearing masks take part in a procession at the Enlightened Heart Tibetan Buddhist temple in Ipoh, MalaysiaManan Vatsyayana/AFPBuddhist monks pray during a ceremony in Thailand's southern province of NarathiwatMadaree Tohlala/AFPPeople pray and light candles at the Marble Temple or Wat Benchamabophit during celebrations of Vesak in Bangkok, ThailandJorge Silva/Reuters
