Every year, the first full moon in the month of Vaishakha as per the Hindu calendar is celebrated as the day when Lord Gautam Buddha was born on earth. Devotees of Buddha believe that it was on this day around 563 BC when Lord Buddha was born as Prince Siddhartha Gautam in Lumbini (which is present-day Nepal). And so this day is celebrated with great enthusiasm by Buddhists across the world. The day is known as Buddha Purnima or Buddha Jayanti or Vesak, and it generally falls in the month of April or May as per the Gregorian calendar. This year, Buddha Purnima will be celebrated on May 5 (Friday). The Purnima Tithi commences on May 5, 2023, at 04:14 AM and it concludes on May 6, 2023, at 03:33 AM, according to Drik Panchang.
While some devotees mark this day as Lord Buddha's birth anniversary, others believe that it was on this day when Lord Buddha achieved Nirvana under the Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya, and thus it is considered an important day by Buddhists.
