Buddha Purnima 1981
Birth, enlightenment and mahaparinirvana of the Buddha on Vaishakha Purnima.
Muhurat & timings
Kashi/IST · astronomically computed- Sankalp (sunrise)05:11
- Sunset18:37
- Fasting window (tithi)03:13 → 1981-05-19 · 05:35
- Parana (tithi ends)05:351981-05-19
Festival days follow the classical attribution rules — udaya (sunrise), pradosha (evening), nishita (midnight), madhyahna or aparahna vyapini as each festival prescribes — computed for Kashi/Varanasi (IST). Regional observance can differ by a day in some years.
Read the Buddha Purnima puja vidhi, vrat rules and kathaBuddha Purnima — Frequently Asked Questions
Why do three events fall on Buddha Purnima?
Tradition holds that the Buddha's birth, his enlightenment and his parinirvana each occurred on the full moon of Vaishakha, though years apart — which is why this single day carries all three and is the holiest of the Buddhist year.
Is Buddha Purnima a Hindu festival too?
Yes. Hindus count the Buddha as the ninth avatar of Vishnu, and the day coincides with the Vaishakha full moon, kept with a holy bath and dana. It is observed by both traditions.
What is offered on Buddha Purnima?
Kheer is traditional — recalling Sujata's offering of milk-rice — along with white flowers, incense and a lamp. The deeper offering is ahimsa, giving, and meditation.
Other major festivals in 1981
- Makar Sankranti — 14 January 1981
- Vasant Panchami — 9 February 1981
- Maha Shivaratri — 4 March 1981
- Holika Dahan — 20 March 1981
- Holi — 21 March 1981
- Chaitra Navratri begins — 5 April 1981
- Ram Navami — 12 April 1981
- Akshaya Tritiya — 6 May 1981
- Jagannath Rath Yatra — 3 July 1981
- Guru Purnima — 17 July 1981
- Nag Panchami — 5 August 1981
- Raksha Bandhan — 15 August 1981
- Krishna Janmashtami — 22 August 1981
- Hartalika Teej — 1 September 1981
- Ganesh Chaturthi — 2 September 1981
- Anant Chaturdashi — 13 September 1981
- Pitru Paksha begins — 15 September 1981
- Sharad Navratri begins — 29 September 1981
- Durga Ashtami — 6 October 1981
- Maha Navami — 7 October 1981
- Dussehra / Vijayadashami — 8 October 1981
- Karwa Chauth — 16 October 1981
- Dhanteras — 25 October 1981
- Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) — 26 October 1981
- Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) — 27 October 1981
- Govardhan Puja — 28 October 1981
- Bhai Dooj — 29 October 1981
- Chhath Puja — 3 November 1981
- Kartik Purnima (Dev Deepawali) — 11 November 1981
- Guru Nanak Jayanti — 11 November 1981
- Hindu Festivals 1981 →