Tibetan and Chinese Festivals

BUDDHA SECT FESTIVALS
January 19 - H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Day
October 29 - Fish Release Day set by the Buddha

CHINESE FESTIVALS
Lunar
Month/ Date
 1  1 (New Moon) Chinese or Lunar New Year
 1  1 (New Moon) Maitreya (Mi-le Fo) Buddha’s Birthday
 1 15 (Full Moon) Spring Festival
 2  8 Shakyamuni Buddha’s Renunciation Day
 2 15 (Full Moon) Shakyamuni Buddha’s Parinirvana Day*
 2 19 Avalokiteshvara (Kuan Yin Pu-sa) Bodhisattva’s Birthday
 2 21 Samantabhadra (Pu Xian Pu-sa) Bodhisattva’s Birthday
 3 16 Cundi (Zhunti Pu-sa) Bodhisattva's Birthday
 4  4 Manjusri (Wen Shu Pu-sa) Bodhisattva’s Birthday
 4  8 Shakyamuni Buddha’s Birthday*
 6  3 Skanda (Wei Tuo Pu-sa) Bodhisattva’s Birthday
 6 19 Avalokiteshvara (Kuan Yin Pu-sa) Bodhisattva’s Enlightenment Day
 6 24 Guan Yu Bodhisattva's Birthday
 7 13 Mahasthamaprapta (Da Shi Zhi Pu-sa) Bodhisattva’s Birthday
 7 30 Kshitagarbha (Di Zang Pu-sa) Bodhisattva’s Birthday
 9 19 Avalokiteshvara (Kuan Yin Pu-sa) Bodhisattva’s Renunciation Day
 9 30 Medicine (Yao Shi Fo) Buddha’s Birthday
10  5 Bodhidharma's (Da Mo) Birthday
11 17 Amitabha (O'mi-tuo Fo) Buddha’s Birthday
12  8 Shakyamuni Buddha’s Enlightenment Day*

*NOTE: other traditions celebrate Shakyamuni Buddha's Birthday, Enlightenment Day, and Parinirvana or Vesak (Wesak) on the same day, usually around the full moon of the fourth lunar month which is usually in May. This may vary on the Gregorian calendar due to the different systems used to calculate the lunar calendars in different countries.

TIBETAN FESTIVALS
 1  1 (New Moon) Losar: Tibetan New Year
 1  1-15 Chotrul Düchen: During the first two weeks of the new year, it is celebrated that the Buddha displayed a miracle each day to increase the merit and devotion of future disciples.
 1 15 (Full Moon) Day of Buddha’s Miracles Butter Light Festival
 4 15 (Full Moon) Saga Dawa Düchen: Shakyamuni Buddha’s Birthday, Enlightenment Day and Parinirvana.
 6  4 Chökhor Düchen: Shakyamuni Buddha’s First Teaching or the "First Turning of the Wheel of Dharma". For the first seven weeks after his Enlightenment, Buddha did not teach. Encouraged by Indra and Brahma, he then gave his first teachings at Sarnath on the Four Noble Truths.
 6 10 Guru Rinpoche’s (Padmasambhava) Birthday
 9 22 Lha Bab Düchen: Shakyamuni Buddha’s Descent from the Trayastrimsa Heaven. Buddha's mother had been reborn in Indra's heaven. To repay her kindness and to benefit the gods, Buddha spent three months teaching in the Trayastrimsa Heaven.

All festival dates are based on either the Chinese or Tibetan lunar calendar as shown above. The Chinese and Tibetans do not use the same method for calculating dates.  

Holy days are observed by visiting the temples and making offerings of prayers, incense, fruit, flowers, and donations. On such days, many lay Buddhists strictly observe the moral precepts and eat only a vegetarian diet.

Formal temple ceremonies are usually held the Sunday prior to the event, but may vary. Please contact local temple or dharma center for exact dates of observance.