Kathmandu: The 2569th birth anniversary of Siddhartha Gautam, known globally as Buddha—the apostle of peace—is being observed today. Buddha Jayanti is celebrated annually on the full moon day of the month of Baishakh in the lunar calendar. The day holds special significance as it marks Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, and passing, all believed to have occurred on this auspicious day.
Buddhists across Nepal and around the world commemorate the occasion with deep reverence. Monks and devotees gather in chaityas, monasteries, and vihars to perform rituals and prayers. Special ceremonies take place in Lumbini—Buddha’s birthplace—as well as in Kapilvastu, Swayambhu, and Boudhanath.
Siddhartha Gautam was born in 563 BC in Lumbini of present-day Rupandehi district to King Suddhodhan and Queen Mayadevi.Though born a prince, he was moved by the suffering of people and, at the age of 29, renounced royal life in pursuit of enlightenment through meditation and asceticism.
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