Buddha Purnima or Buddha Jayanti, the birth anniversary of the Buddha, is the most important festival of the Buddhists and is celebrated with great enthusiasm. This festival falls on full moon day in the month of April. It was on this same day that Buddha got enlightenment and also attained Nirvana or salvation. So, the Buddhists consider the day to be more auspicious than any other day of the year. It is also believed that Yashodara, Gautam's wife, his charioteer Channa and even his horse Kantaka were born on the same day.

The style of celebrations varies across the sub-continent, but all are awesome to be a part of as a spectator or devotee. In Sarnath, north of Varanasi, there tends to be a huge colourful fair on the site where the Buddha preached his first sermon. In Gangtok, East Sikkim, the streets fill with shaven-headed, maroon-clad monks who slowly process while meditating on sacred scriptures. If you are near Sanchi or Kusinagar, it's well worth a visit there too.

On this day, Buddhists offer prayers in their temples. Sarnath in Uttar Pradesh and Bodh Gaya in Bihar are the main centres of celebration. Celebrations of Buddha purnimahave been extensively referred to in various poems and novels. They are also depicted in mural paintings. Buddha Purnima represents the birthday and enlightenment of a great seer. Hence it is not intended to be a day of rejoicing but of deep reflections on the travails of human life.