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Buddha Jayanti is celebrated on the eve
of the birth anniversary of the Lord Buddha.
This is a prominent festival of the followers
of Gautam Buddha, and usually falls in the
month of Vaisakha (Which according to the
Hindu calendar falls in April or May).
Gautam Buddha was born in B.C. 560 and
died at the age of eighty in B.C. 480. It
was during his time that Buddhism went on
to become a very popular religion in the
subsequent centuries and even went abroad.
It was on Buddha Purnima that Gautam Buddha
attained heavenly enlightenment and after
preaching the 5 principles of life attained
'Nirvana' on this day. Thus, Buddha Jayanti
celebrates the 3 most important things in
Gautam Buddha's life. Pilgrims from all
over the globe come to Bodh Gaya, India
to take part in the Buddha Jayanti celebrations.
These are usually marked by holding prayer
meets, sermons and religious discourses,
recitation of Buddhist scriptures, group
meditation sessions, processions and worship
of the statue of Lord Buddha.
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