Buddha Purnima 2012
Birth, enlightenment and mahaparinirvana of the Buddha on Vaishakha Purnima.
Muhurat & timings
Kashi/IST · astronomically computed- Sankalp (sunrise)05:18
- Sunset18:31
- Fasting window (tithi)2012-05-05 · 12:54 → 09:07
- Parana (tithi ends)09:07
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 2012
- Makar Sankranti — 15 January 2012
- Vasant Panchami — 28 January 2012
- Maha Shivaratri — 20 February 2012
- Holika Dahan — 7 March 2012
- Holi — 9 March 2012
- Chaitra Navratri begins — 23 March 2012
- Ram Navami — 1 April 2012
- Akshaya Tritiya — 24 April 2012
- Jagannath Rath Yatra — 21 June 2012
- Guru Purnima — 3 July 2012
- Nag Panchami — 24 July 2012
- Raksha Bandhan — 2 August 2012
- Krishna Janmashtami — 8 September 2012
- Hartalika Teej — 18 September 2012
- Ganesh Chaturthi — 19 September 2012
- Anant Chaturdashi — 29 September 2012
- Pitru Paksha begins — 1 October 2012
- Sharad Navratri begins — 16 October 2012
- Durga Ashtami — 22 October 2012
- Maha Navami — 23 October 2012
- Dussehra / Vijayadashami — 24 October 2012
- Karwa Chauth — 2 November 2012
- Dhanteras — 11 November 2012
- Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) — 13 November 2012
- Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) — 13 November 2012
- Govardhan Puja — 14 November 2012
- Bhai Dooj — 15 November 2012
- Chhath Puja — 19 November 2012
- Kartik Purnima (Dev Deepawali) — 28 November 2012
- Guru Nanak Jayanti — 28 November 2012
- Hindu Festivals 2012 →