Vaishakh Purnima or Buddha Purnima is also known as Baisakh Purnima is an important lunar auspicious Tithi for Snan-Daan, Havan/ Homam/ Purna Ahuti. People observe Vrat, get rid of their financial, health or marriage related problems and bad effects of the Pitra Dosha.
People observe Satyanarayana Vrat, narrate Satya Narayana Katha to fulfill their desires by the performing Puja rituals, worship, and get blessings of God.
The significance of Vaishakh Purnima or Baisakh Purnima
All Purnima Tithi(days)are considered auspicious and are celebrated as festivals. Vaishakh Purnima or Baisakh Purnima is considered one of the sacred and significant festivals held throughout the world. Purnima is the Indian and Nepali name for a full moon.
Devotees observe fast, worship and offer flowers, fruits, sweets, and Jal to Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu, and Goddess Lakshmi.
On this auspicious Purnima Tithi, people offer Arghya to the moon, donate food and clothes to poor and chant Mantra. They take holy river bath during early hours of the morning before performing Puja, Havan, Purna Ahuti and Daan rituals.
Vaishakh Purnima is also celebrated as Kurma Jayanti. This sacred day is the birth anniversary of Kurma who is Lord Vishnu’s second incarnation.
Vaishakh Purnima is also called Kurma Purnima (Snan-Dan). It occurs on full moon day in the Hindu lunar month(Chandra Maas) Vaishakh/Baisakh in April or May, every year.
This Vaishakh Purnima or Kurma Purnima festival falls on Saturday, May 18, 2019. Besides the religious festival, it is also celebrated as a harvest festival.
Performing Puja, Homa and Daan on Vaishakh Purnima
Devotees will celebrate this auspicious Vaishakh Purnima or Kurma Purnima festival on Wednesday, May 06, 2020. Purnima Tithi begins at 7:44:09 PM and ends on 07 May, 2020, at 07:44 PM.
After getting up in the early morning and taking bath, Baisakh Purnima or Vaishakh Purnima Vrat is observed, Katha is narrated in front of Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva and Goddess Lakshmi in the local temple or at the house.
Then after lighting the Dhup and Deepak (lamp filled with ghee), flowers, fruits, and sweets are offered to the God and goddess. Arti, Homa and Purna Ahuti rituals are also performed.
Devotees offer Arghya to the Moon. Prasad is distributed to all the people present there. Some kind of donation(Dakshina) is offered to the priest. Charity (Anna, Vastra, Jal -Daan) to the poor or needy people is made.
It is also celebrated as a harvest festival.
Budh Purnima or Buddha Purnima 2020/ Vesak-2020
This great and auspicious Tithi is also known as Vesak/ Hanamatsuri (Buddha’s birthday). Budh Purnima or Buddha Purnima is also known as Trividhi Pavan Day.
Gautam Buddha was born on this auspicious Tithi Vaishakh Purnima. Gautam Budh was the founder of the religious philosophy of Buddhism. Lord Buddha ‘the enlightened one’ gave the important spiritual teachings after he attained the ‘enlightenment’ and nirvana (salvation) on the same day.
The followers of Buddhism worship and offer flowers, fruits, and candles to Gautam Buddha and remember his teachings with great respect. Buddhist monks chant ancient verses for the followers on this day.