BUDDHIST CALENDAR FOR 2006

Thursday 13 April
Therevada New Year: New Year festival for Theravada Buddhists celebrated for three days from the first full moon day in April

Friday 12 May
Buddha Day or Wesak: The most important Buddhist festival. It commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and death of Buddha. During Wesak, Buddhists celebrate the life of the Buddha and his teachings.

Saturday 13 May
Wesak or Buddha day: The most important of the Buddhist festivals. It celebrates the Buddha's birthday, and, for some Buddhists, also marks his birth and death.

Monday 10 July
Asala - Dhamma Day: The anniversary of the start of Buddha's teaching - his first sermon "The Wheel of Truth ", after his enlightenment.

Friday 8 December
Bodhi Day: On Bodhi day some Buddhists celebrate Gautama's attainment of enlightenment under the Bodhi tree at Bodhgaya, India.

BUDDHIST CALENDAR FOR 2007

Wednesday 3 January
Mahayana New Year: New Year for Mahayana Buddhists celebrated on the first full moon day in January.

Thursday 8 February
Parinirvana - Nirvana day: Mahayana Buddhist festival marking the anniversary of Buddha's death. Pure Land Buddhists call the festival "Nirvana Day". Parinirvana is celebrated by some Buddhists on February 8th.

Thursday 15 February
Nirvana day (alternative date): Nirvana Day is also known as Parinirvana and is celebrated by some Buddhists on February 8th. Nirvana Day is the celebration of Buddha's death when he reached total Nirvana, at the age of 80.

Sunday 18 February
Losar (start): The most important holiday in Tibet, marking the Tibetan New Year. The celebration lasts three days from today.

Saturday 3 March
Magha Puja: Fourfold Assembly or Sangha Day. Marks the day Buddha addressed a meeting of 1250 arahants.

Monday 2 April
Therevada New Year: New Year festival for Theravada Buddhists celebrated for three days from the first full moon day in April

Wednesday 2 May
Wesak or Buddha day: The most important of the Buddhist festivals. It celebrates the Buddha's birthday, and, for some Buddhists, also marks his birth and death.

Saturday 30 June
Asala - Dhamma Day: The anniversary of the start of Buddha's teaching - his first sermon "The Wheel of Truth ", after his enlightenment.

Saturday 8 December
Bodhi Day: On Bodhi day some Buddhists celebrate Gautama's attainment of enlightenment under the Bodhi tree at Bodhgaya, India.

BUDDHIST CALENDAR FOR 2008

Friday 8 February
Parinirvana - Nirvana day: Mahayana Buddhist festival marking the anniversary of Buddha's death. Pure Land Buddhists call the festival "Nirvana Day". Parinirvana is celebrated by some Buddhists on February 8th.

Losar (start): The most important holiday in Tibet, marking the Tibetan New Year. The celebration lasts three days from today.

Friday 15 February
Nirvana day (alternative date): Nirvana Day is also known as Parinirvana and is celebrated by some Buddhists on February 8th. Nirvana Day is the celebration of Buddha's death when he reached total Nirvana, at the age of 80.

Tuesday 20 May
Wesak or Buddha day: The most important of the Buddhist festivals. It celebrates the Buddha's birthday, and, for some Buddhists, also marks his birth and death.

Monday 8 December
Bodhi Day: On Bodhi day some Buddhists celebrate Gautama's attainment of enlightenment under the Bodhi tree at Bodhgaya, India.

BUDDHIST CALENDAR FOR 2009

Tuesday 27 January
Losar (start): The most important holiday in Tibet, marking the Tibetan New Year. The celebration lasts three days from today.

Sunday 8 February
Parinirvana - Nirvana day: Mahayana Buddhist festival marking the anniversary of Buddha's death. Pure Land Buddhists call the festival "Nirvana Day". Parinirvana is celebrated by some Buddhists on February 8th.

Sunday 15 February
Nirvana day (alternative date): Nirvana Day is also known as Parinirvana and is celebrated by some Buddhists on February 8th. Nirvana Day is the celebration of Buddha's death when he reached total Nirvana, at the age of 80.

Tuesday 8 December
Bodhi Day: On Bodhi day some Buddhists celebrate Gautama's attainment of enlightenment under the Bodhi tree at Bodhgaya, India.