Kiren Rijiju, Union Minister for Minority Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs, led the Indian delegation at the United Nations Day of Vesak celebrations in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The event will be held from 6 to 8 May 2025. This is the fourth time that Vietnam has hosted the United Nations Day of Vesak. It previously hosted it in 2008, 2014, and 2019.

The opening ceremony of the United Nations Day of Vesak in Ho Chi Minh City was addressed by Luong Cuong, President of Vietnam, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, President of Sri Lanka, Kiren Rijiju and other distinguished Buddhist monks.

Background to the United Nations Day of Vesak

The United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution in December 1999 to observe Day of Vesak or the Day of the Full Moon in the month of May each year.

The first Day of Vesak was observed in 2000 by the United Nations in its headquarters in New York.

Importance of Vesak in Buddhism

Vesak, marks the birth, enlightenment, and passing of the Lord Buddha. It is one of the most sacred observances in Buddhism.

The name Vesak originates from Vaisak/Vaishakh month of the Hindu calendar. It falls in the April/May month of the Gregorian calendar. The Hindu calendar is based on the moon while the Gregorian calendar is based on the Sun movement.

According to Buddhist tradition, Lord Buddha’s birth in Lumbini (Nepal), his enlightenment in Gaya and his death in Kushinagar in Uttar Pradesh occurred during Buddha Purnima(full moon) in the month of Vaishakh.

Buddha Purnima will be observed on 12 May 2025 this year. On this day, the United Nations will observe the United Nations Day of Vesak in New York.

Who Organised the United Nations Day of Vesak?

The United Nations Day of Vesak is organised by the International Council for the Day of Vesak. It is an association of international Buddhist communities. It organises the United Nations Day of Vesak in different parts of the world.

It has organised 20 United Nations Day of Vesak, including the 2025 conference in Vietnam. Thailand has hosted it 15 times, Vietnam four times and Sri Lanka once in 2017.

Since 2013, the International Council for the Day of Vesak has had a Special Consultative Status with the UN Economic and Social Council.

Display of the Holy Buddhist Relic

Kiren Rijiju also brought the Sacred Relics of Lord Buddha from India to Vietnam.

It will be displayed at 4 monasteries in Vietnam during the United Nations Day of Vesak.

These relics, which include a portion of the skull bone of Lord Buddha, were brought from Mulagandha Kuti Vihara, (monastery) in Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh.

The relics were excavated in Nagarjuna Konda, a prominent site of Mahayana Buddhism in Andhra Pradesh.