Buddha Purnima 2023
Birth, enlightenment and mahaparinirvana of the Buddha on Vaishakha Purnima.
Muhurat & timings
Kashi/IST · astronomically computed- Sankalp (sunrise)05:19
- Sunset18:30
- Fasting window (tithi)2023-05-04 · 23:46 → 23:06
- Parana (tithi ends)23:06
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 2023
- Makar Sankranti — 14 January 2023
- Vasant Panchami — 26 January 2023
- Maha Shivaratri — 18 February 2023
- Holika Dahan — 6 March 2023
- Holi — 8 March 2023
- Chaitra Navratri begins — 22 March 2023
- Ram Navami — 30 March 2023
- Akshaya Tritiya — 22 April 2023
- Jagannath Rath Yatra — 20 June 2023
- Guru Purnima — 3 July 2023
- Nag Panchami — 21 August 2023
- Raksha Bandhan — 31 August 2023
- Krishna Janmashtami — 6 September 2023
- Hartalika Teej — 18 September 2023
- Ganesh Chaturthi — 19 September 2023
- Anant Chaturdashi — 28 September 2023
- Pitru Paksha begins — 30 September 2023
- Sharad Navratri begins — 15 October 2023
- Durga Ashtami — 22 October 2023
- Maha Navami — 23 October 2023
- Dussehra / Vijayadashami — 24 October 2023
- Karwa Chauth — 1 November 2023
- Dhanteras — 10 November 2023
- Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) — 12 November 2023
- Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) — 12 November 2023
- Govardhan Puja — 14 November 2023
- Bhai Dooj — 15 November 2023
- Chhath Puja — 19 November 2023
- Kartik Purnima (Dev Deepawali) — 27 November 2023
- Guru Nanak Jayanti — 27 November 2023
- Hindu Festivals 2023 →