| Buddhist Months |
| Citta |
| Vaisakha |
| Jettha |
| Asalah |
| Savana |
| Potthabada |
| Assayuja |
| Kattika |
| Maggasira |
| Pussa |
| Maga |
| Phagguna |
The Buddhist calendar combines both solar and lunar elements. The year is solar, usually consisting of 12 months, with the inclusion of an additional month ever fourth or fifth year. However all religious festivals follow the lunar calendar.
The full moon days in each month are particularly important to Buddhists and many of them are celebrated. Full moon in Vaisakha is particularly significant to Theavradist Buddhists as it commemorates the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha. Followers of the Mahayana and Zen Buddhist traditions usually celebrate each of these events on a separate day.
In Theavradist tradition the New Year falls on a fixed day in April. The Chinese and Tibetan New Years day falls on a new moon: the Chinese in late January or early February, while Tibetan (Losar) usually falls in February.
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Buddhists also have many local traditions and celebrations in various countries and ethnic groups. In most areas of the world, the holy days are synchronised with the phases of the moon. They thus vary from year to year according to the Gregorian calendar.
Mahayana New Year:-
New Year for Mahayana Buddhists celebrated on the first full moon day in January.
Bodhi Day:- Rohatsu or Parinirvana:-
Is held in mid February. It commemorates the death of Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha.
Pure Land Buddhists call the festival "Nirvana Day". Parinirvana 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.
Losar:-
Losar is the most important holiday in Tibet, marking the Tibetan New Year. The celebration lasts three days from today.
Magha Puja:-
Magha Puja Is the Fourfold Assembly or Sangha Day. It marks the day Buddha addressed a meeting of 1250 arahants.
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Therevadan New Year:-
New Year festival for Theravada Buddhists celebrated for three days from the first full moon day in April.
Wesak:- or Buddha day
This is the most important of the Buddhist festivals. It celebrates the Buddha's birthday, in April or May. For some Buddhists this also marks his enlightenment and death
Asala:- Dharma Day
The anniversary of the start of Buddha's teaching his first sermon,"The Wheel of Truth ", after his enlightenment.
New Year's Day
New Year's Day is also celebrated in mid-February in China, Korea and Vietnam.
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