| Binara Full Moon Poya Day - Tuesday September 1, 2020 Buddhism (Theravada) : Even before the birth of Buddhism, Asian ascetics in the ancient times when there were no calendars, made it a practice on full moon days to cease worldly pursuits and engage themselves in religious activities.
The Buddha adopted this practice and from this developed the preaching of the Buddhist texts and commentaries (bana) in monasteries and temples on full moon Poya days. And when the Venerable Arahat Mahinda Thero introduced Buddhism to this country in 247 BC he also introduced the Poya tradition.
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| Regional holiday - Tuesday September 1, 2020 Buddhism (Theravada) : Ghodejatra Kathmandu Valley only
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| Indra Jatra - Tuesday September 1, 2020 Buddhism (Theravada) : The celebrations consist of two events, Indra Jatra and Kumari Jatra. Indra Jatra is marked by masked dances of deities and demons, displays of sacred images and tableaus in honor of the deity Indra, the king of heaven. Kumari Jatra is the chariot procession of the living goddess Kumari.
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| Maha Songkran - Friday September 4, 2020 Buddhism (Theravada) : leap towards renewal . 3-day festival involving water-splashing, the freeing of fish, fighting kites, dancing, etc.
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| Maha Songkran - Monday September 7, 2020 Buddhism (Theravada) : leap towards renewal . 3-day festival involving water-splashing, the freeing of fish, fighting kites, dancing, etc.
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| Bonn Phchum Ben - Wednesday September 16, 2020 Buddhism (Theravada) : Offerings to monks, prayers at the pagoda
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| Bonn Phchum Ben - Thursday September 17, 2020 Buddhism (Theravada) : Offerings to monks, prayers at the pagoda
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| Bonn Phchum Ben - Friday September 18, 2020 Buddhism (Theravada) : Offerings to monks, prayers at the pagoda
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| Thimphu Drupchen - Tuesday September 22, 2020 Buddhism (Theravada) : Lasts 5 days - The Drubchhen was instituted between 1705 and 1709 by Kuenga Gyaltshen, the first reincarnation of Jampel Dorji, the son of Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. According to legend, Pelden Lhamo appeared before him and performed the dances while he was in meditation. Based on these dances, Kuenga Gyeltshen initiated the Drubchhen
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| Vap Full Moon Poya Day - Thursday October 1, 2020 Buddhism (Theravada) : Celebrates the obtaining of Vivarana (the assurance of becoming a Buddha) by the Bodhisatta Maitriya and the commissioning of 60 disciples by The Buddha to disperse his teachings. http://www.mysrilanka.com/travel/lanka/festivals/POSON.HTM
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| Bouk ok Pansa (Buddhist Fast ends) - Friday October 2, 2020 Buddhism (Theravada) : Bouk Khao Pansa marks the end of Buddhist Lent and all those couples who had been putting off marriage now rush into each other's arms. Monks are free to travel from kyaung to kyaung or to go on pilgrimage to holy spots. in Vientiane only
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| Vap Full Moon Poya Day - Friday October 30, 2020 Buddhism (Theravada) : Celebrates the obtaining of Vivarana (the assurance of becoming a Buddha) by the Bodhisatta Maitriya and the commissioning of 60 disciples by The Buddha to disperse his teachings. http://www.mysrilanka.com/travel/lanka/festivals/POSON.HTM
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| Festival of the Golden Stupa (in Vientiane only) - Saturday October 31, 2020 Buddhism (Theravada) : That Luang is the national symbol and most important religious monument of Laos. Vientiane's most important Theravada Buddhist festival, Boun That Luang , is held here for three days during the full moon of the twelfth lunar month not a paid holiday when falling on Saturday or Sunday [Wikipedia]
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| Buddha's Coming Down from Heaven - Friday November 6, 2020 Buddhism (Theravada) : Celebration of his return to earth from heaven. Lord Buddha was born in Lumbini, Nepal, and his mother expired after seven days. At the age of 41, he ascended to heaven to preach to his mother.
Nuns and monks and king Zug Chen Nyingpo were worried because they did not know where hewas. His disciple, the clairvoyant Sharibu, had a vision of the lord to be in heaven. Another disciple of Lord Buddha, Mao gyel ge bu, who was known to possess miraculous powers, ascended to heaven and requested Buddha to return to earth. He agreed to descend.
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| Govardhan Puja - Saturday November 14, 2020 Buddhism (Theravada) :
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| Govardhan Puja - Sunday November 15, 2020 Buddhism (Theravada) :
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| Il Full Moon Poya Day - Sunday November 29, 2020 Buddhism (Theravada) : Marks the end of the Rainy Retreat period (Vassana-Samaya). The Bhikkus stay indoors in the temples and observe the Bhavana meditation and other religious activities. This is the end and climax of the rainy season.
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| Unduvap Poya - Tuesday December 29, 2020 Buddhism (Theravada) : Arrival of the Bo-tree sapling. This was brought to Sri Lanka from India by Buddhist Theri Sanghamitta, and it is this very tree that is venerated by Buddhists in Anuradhapura. It is also the oldest documented tree in the world. Sanghamitta Theri established the Bhikkhuni Sasana (the Order of Nuns). paid holiday when falling on Saturday or Sunday
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| Sonam Lochar - Wednesday December 30, 2020 Buddhism (Theravada) : Tamang New Year - This community has a tradition of associating years with the symbols of 12 different animals (starting with Rat and ending with Boar).
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