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Festival Calendar

Buddha Purnima 2016

Birth, enlightenment and mahaparinirvana of the Buddha on Vaishakha Purnima.

Buddha Purnima 2015Buddha Purnima 2017
Looking for this year? See when Buddha Purnima 2026 falls
Buddha Purnima 2016 date
Saturday, 21 May 2016
Tithi: Vaishakha Purnima
Tithi window: 12:49 AM, Saturday, 21 May 2016 → 02:51 AM, Sunday, 22 May 2016
See the full panchang for Saturday, 21 May 2016

Muhurat & timings

Kashi/IST · astronomically computed
  • Sankalp (sunrise)05:10
  • Sunset18:39
  • Fasting window (tithi)00:49 → 2016-05-22 · 02:51
  • Parana (tithi ends)02:512016-05-22

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 katha

Buddha 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 2016