• This day is a very holy and important day for Buddhists, and it gives them a chance to do good deeds, cleanse their hearts, and grow in their spiritual path.

Saka Dawa Duchen, also known as Buddha Purnima, is a sacred day for Buddhists around the world. The entire month is considered auspicious, but the 15th day is the most important and widely celebrated. It commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and Parinirvana (passing away) of Lord Buddha. It is believed that the merit earned from virtuous actions during this month is multiplied many times, making it an ideal time for spiritual practice and cultivating positive qualities. Saka Dawa holds great significance for Tibetan Buddhists & is a time of heightened spiritual devotion and practice. The observance serves as a reminder of Lord Buddha’s teachings & the importance of cultivating compassion, wisdom, & mindfulness in one’s life. In Tibetan, Dawa means “month” while Saka means the “name of the closet star to the earth”. In Tibetan astrological calculations, Saka is one of the 28 known major stars.

The 15th day of this lunar month, the full moon day is called Saga Dawa Düchen (Düchen means “great occasion”) — the most important day in the Buddhist calendar, this year on June 4, 2023 (on the western solar-based calendar).

Shakyamuni Buddha practiced the eightfold path and taught it to his disciples. He attained Enlightenment.