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2026
Coming upDecember
PastOctober
Ok Phansa (End of Vassa)The end of the rains retreat (Pavarana): merit-making, boat races and fire boats on the Mekong; Kathina robe offerings follow.WikipediaDetails →Vassa (Buddhist Rains Retreat)The three-month rains retreat of Theravada monks, from Khao Phansa, the day after Asalha Puja, to Ok Phansa.Bank of Thailand holiday calendarDetails →
PastSeptember
PastAugust
PastJuly
PastMay
Vesak (Visakha Bucha, Thailand)The Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and passing, on the Theravada lunar calendar of Thailand (Sri Lanka, Singapore and Malaysia keep Vesak on this day or...Bank of Thailand holiday calendarDetails →Buddha’s Birthday (East Asia)Observed in China, Korea (Bucheonnim Osin Nal), Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau on the 8th day of the 4th lunar month. Day 8 of lunar month 4.Hong Kong Observatory, computedDetails →Buddha PurnimaThe birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha, as observed in India (Vesak). Vaishakha, Shukla Purnima. Regional dates can differ by a day.Wikipedia, computedDetails →
PastApril
Songkran (Thai New Year)The Theravada new year of Thailand, with Pi Mai in Laos, Thingyan in Myanmar and Choul Chnam Thmey in Cambodia: temple visits, merit-making and water throwing.Wikipedia, computedDetails →Hanamatsuri (Buddha’s Birthday in Japan)Flower festival: sweet tea is poured over a statue of the infant Buddha.Wikipedia, computedDetails →
PastMarch
Spring HiganThe week of the equinox, when Japanese Buddhists visit and tidy family graves.Wikipedia, computedDetails →Magha Puja (Makha Bucha)The full moon when 1,250 disciples gathered unbidden before the Buddha; candlelit processions around temples in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar.Bank of Thailand holiday calendarDetails →
PastFebruary
Losar (Tibetan New Year)The Tibetan Buddhist new year (Phugpa calendar), kept in Tibet, the Himalaya, Mongolia and the diaspora.Central Tibetan AdministrationDetails →Nirvana Day (Parinirvana)The Buddha’s passing into final nirvana, kept by many Mahayana Buddhists (February 8 in some traditions).Wikipedia, computedDetails →
PastJanuary
| Date | Event | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Coming upDecember | |||
| Dec 8Tuein 4 weeks | Bodhi DayThe Buddha’s enlightenment, kept on December 8 in Japanese and many Western Mahayana traditions (Rohatsu). · Wikipedia | annual | WikipediaComputed (rule) |
| PastOctober | |||
| Oct 26Mon2 weeks ago | Ok Phansa (End of Vassa)The end of the rains retreat (Pavarana): merit-making, boat races and fire boats on the Mekong; Kathina robe offerings follow. · Wikipedia | annual | Wikipedia |
| Jul 30Thu2 weeks ago | Vassa (Buddhist Rains Retreat)The three-month rains retreat of Theravada monks, from Khao Phansa, the day after Asalha Puja, to Ok Phansa.to Oct 26 · Bank of Thailand holiday calendar | annual | Bank of Thailand holiday calendar |
| PastSeptember | |||
| Sep 20Sun6 weeks ago | Autumn HiganThe week of the equinox, when Japanese Buddhists visit and tidy family graves.to Sep 26 · Wikipedia | annual | WikipediaComputed (rule) |
| PastAugust | |||
| Aug 27Thu2 months ago | Ghost Festival (Zhongyuan)Offerings to ancestors and wandering spirits (Buddhist Ullambana). Day 15 of lunar month 7. · Hong Kong Observatory | annual | Hong Kong ObservatoryComputed (rule) |
| Aug 13Thu2 months ago | ObonJapanese Buddhist festival honoring ancestors, August 13 to 16 in most of Japan.to Aug 16 · Wikipedia | annual | WikipediaComputed (rule) |
| PastJuly | |||
| Jul 29Wed3 months ago | Asalha Puja (Asanha Bucha)The Buddha’s first sermon at Sarnath; the Rains Retreat (Vassa) begins the next day. · Bank of Thailand holiday calendar | annual | Bank of Thailand holiday calendar |
| PastMay | |||
| May 31Sun5 months ago | Vesak (Visakha Bucha, Thailand)The Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and passing, on the Theravada lunar calendar of Thailand (Sri Lanka, Singapore and Malaysia keep Vesak on this day or... · Bank of Thailand holiday calendar | annual | Bank of Thailand holiday calendar |
| May 24Sun5 months ago | Buddha’s Birthday (East Asia)Observed in China, Korea (Bucheonnim Osin Nal), Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau on the 8th day of the 4th lunar month. Day 8 of lunar month 4. · Hong Kong Observatory | annual | Hong Kong ObservatoryComputed (rule) |
| May 1Fri6 months ago | Buddha PurnimaTentativeThe birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha, as observed in India (Vesak). Vaishakha, Shukla Purnima. Regional dates can differ by a day. · Wikipedia | annual | WikipediaComputed (rule) |
| PastApril | |||
| Apr 13Mon6 months ago | Songkran (Thai New Year)The Theravada new year of Thailand, with Pi Mai in Laos, Thingyan in Myanmar and Choul Chnam Thmey in Cambodia: temple visits, merit-making and water throwing.to Apr 15 · Wikipedia | annual | WikipediaComputed (rule) |
| Apr 8Wed7 months ago | Hanamatsuri (Buddha’s Birthday in Japan)Flower festival: sweet tea is poured over a statue of the infant Buddha. · Wikipedia | annual | WikipediaComputed (rule) |
| PastMarch | |||
| Mar 17Tue7 months ago | Spring HiganThe week of the equinox, when Japanese Buddhists visit and tidy family graves.to Mar 23 · Wikipedia | annual | WikipediaComputed (rule) |
| Mar 3Tue8 months ago | Magha Puja (Makha Bucha)The full moon when 1,250 disciples gathered unbidden before the Buddha; candlelit processions around temples in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar. · Bank of Thailand holiday calendar | annual | Bank of Thailand holiday calendar |
| PastFebruary | |||
| Feb 18Wed8 months ago | Losar (Tibetan New Year)The Tibetan Buddhist new year (Phugpa calendar), kept in Tibet, the Himalaya, Mongolia and the diaspora. · Central Tibetan Administration | annual | Central Tibetan Administration |
| Feb 15Sun8 months ago | Nirvana Day (Parinirvana)The Buddha’s passing into final nirvana, kept by many Mahayana Buddhists (February 8 in some traditions). · Wikipedia | annual | WikipediaComputed (rule) |
| PastJanuary | |||
| Jan 26Mon9 months ago | Laba FestivalLaba congee; in Chinese Buddhism, the day of the Buddha’s enlightenment. Day 8 of lunar month 12. · Hong Kong Observatory | annual | Hong Kong ObservatoryComputed (rule) |