15th (full moon) day of the 4th lunar month
18 May 2019 | 5th June 2020 | 26 May 2021 | 16 May 2022 | 4 June 2023 | 23 May 2024 | 11 June 2025 | 31 May 2026 | 20 May 2027 | 7 June 2028 | 27 May 2029 | 17 May 2030
In Bodhgaya, India, at the last watch of night, in a single instant, the Great Bodhisattva put an end to the beginningless suffering of birth, old age and death, which comes forth ceaselessly. He, at the age of thirty-five, attained Buddhahood—peerless, perfect and complete enlightenment, and acquired the three knowledges. Rising seven Tala trees high, he announced: “The chain is broken, the emotions stilled, suffering is ended”.
This day also marks the anniversary of his parinirvana at Kushinagara, India.
It is a Dharmachakra day, one of the four 10 million times days of the year: all positive and negative actions are multiplied by 10 million!
according to the Tibetan calendar
His Holiness Karmapa's said on Saga Dawa / Vesak (2018):
His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, shares the following message for his students on the occasion of Vesak 2019:
Mahabodhi Temple
Mahaparinirvana Temple